Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about finding a home, listing a property, and staying safe on Groningen Living.
Categories
Finding a Room
Yes! Searching, filtering, and replying to landlords is 100% free for students. We do not charge subscription fees or mediation costs.
As early as possible. For the September intake, we recommend starting in April or May. The market peaks in June/July, and by August, it is extremely difficult to find anything.
Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it unless the property has the purple 'Online Viewing' badge. If you are abroad, ask the landlord for a video call (FaceTime/WhatsApp) before signing anything.
It is a 'vote-in' night common in Dutch student houses. You visit the house, meet the current roommates, and they choose their favorite candidate. It can be competitive, so be yourself!
Money & Contracts
It is a subsidy from the Dutch government to help low-income earners pay rent. You generally only qualify if you are 18+, rent an independent residence (own front door, kitchen, toilet), and fall below specific income/asset limits.
Legally, a deposit cannot exceed 2 months of basic rent. Most landlords ask for 1 month. Never pay a deposit before you have signed a contract.
Generally, no. If an agency works for the landlord (which they usually do), they cannot charge the tenant a 'bemiddelingskosten' (mediation fee). They can only charge small administration fees (e.g., €50) for contract prep.
It depends. 'Inclusive' (Incl.) means bills are included in the price. 'Exclusive' (Excl.) means you must arrange your own energy contracts. Always check the listing details.
Registration & BSN
If a room is legal, you MUST be able to register (inschrijven). If a landlord says 'registration is not possible', it usually means they are renting illegally or tax-dodging. Avoid these rooms.
Eventually, yes. While you can pay rent with a foreign IBAN, many local services (gyms, grocery delivery) require a Dutch payment method (iDEAL). We recommend opening a Bunq or Revolut account upon arrival.
The Burgerservicenummer is your unique citizen number. You get it automatically when you register at the municipality. You need it for work, insurance, and banking.
Trust & Safety
Look for the 'Verified Host' badge. This means we have digitally verified the landlord's identity or physically verified the property. Always be cautious of listings without this badge.
Stop communicating immediately. This is a scam. Legitimate Dutch landlords use bank transfers to IBANs starting with 'NL'. Please report the user to us via the Contact page.
To prevent spam and protect privacy, contact details are only revealed after a landlord explicitly 'Accepts' your application request.
For Landlords
Simply create an account, select 'Landlord' as your role, and click 'List a Property' in your dashboard. It takes about 2 minutes.
To keep our platform safe, we require landlords to verify their identity via a manual ID check or KVK check. Once verified, you get a badge which increases student trust significantly.
Yes. You have full control. You can review the student's profile, message, and budget before clicking 'Accept' or 'Decline' in your dashboard.
Still have questions?
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