What is starter tenancy in Tilburg and how does it work?
Starter tenancy, introduced as of 1 July 2024 via the Starter Tenancy Act (Article 7:255a Dutch Civil Code), enables landlords in Tilburg to charge young tenants (18-28 years) higher rents for mid-range rental properties. This applies particularly to new-build projects in neighbourhoods such as the Reeshof or around the station and renovated buildings with a maximum rent of €1,146 gross per month. In Tilburg, where there is a high housing shortage among young people, the municipality promotes this through quotas to encourage tenant turnover.
Pitfalls and protection in Tilburg
The starter tenancy agreement ends automatically after a maximum of two years, without termination protection during that period. Young tenants in Tilburg thereby lose entitlement to standard rent protection, but retain the right to rent price controls via the Rent Tribunal. Beware of abuse: if landlords in Tilburg improperly use starter tenancy for older tenants or non-new buildings, the contract becomes invalid. The municipality monitors this strictly, partly due to the tightness of the Tilburg rental market.
Rights after expiry in Tilburg
After the two years, the contract transitions to standard tenancy law with full protection. Tenants must terminate in good time themselves to avoid double rent payments, especially in popular Tilburg neighbourhoods. Landlords may not terminate prematurely, except in cases of serious non-payment. The municipality of Tilburg applies specific quotas for starter tenancy; consult the municipality's website or Woonbedrijf for local conditions and available properties.