Eindhoven has become the latest Dutch city to introduce measures to tackle flat-sharing and stop illegal rentals.

‘We want Eindhoven to offer enough of a variety in housing to meet everyone’s needs,’ said housing alderman Yasin Torunoglu. ‘But we also want to keep a balance and ensure the atmosphere remains pleasant for everyone.’

Landlords who have already illegally divided their properties into smaller flats and bedsits and who rent out shared properties are being given a year to apply for the proper permits.

The city has also added two more neighbourhoods to the six already identified where no more shared accommodation can be realised.

In addition, Eindhoven is introducing a ’30 metre’ test for the whole city, apart from the centre. This means that landlords will not be given permission to convert properties for shared living if they are within 30 metres from the centre of a property which has already been made suitable for sharing.

The council says the new rules have been drawn up together with landlords, tenants and residents organisations.

The Hague

In March, The Hague city council said it is to stop giving licences for formalised flat shares in 10 city districts in an effort to ‘relieve the pressure on the supply of cheaper housing’.

The council is also looking at further measures to reduce the pressure on housing and aims to publish them by the summer. These may include a ban on roof extensions to stop investors buying up cheap homes and making them bigger, and introducing a licencing system for landlords.

Amsterdam has already taken steps to stop unlicenced flat sharing in the city. In Amsterdam a licence is need for upwards of three people sharing an apartment. In The Hague licencing starts at four.