Private landlord property sell-off peaks, home shortage worsens

The wave of property sales by private landlords appears to have peaked, but the impact on the rental market is worsening, according to new figures from the Kadaster land registry office.

Landlords have been selling off smaller properties for the past two years because of the impact of tougher rent controls, higher taxes, and the end of short-term contracts. Many used to let their properties on two-year contracts but those were banned from July 2024, prompting landlords to sell once the contracts came to an end.

Private and institutional investors sold 17,300 homes in the first three months of this year, and around one third were bought by people who planned to live in them, reducing the rental supply by 6,140 homes.

Although investors bought 9,980 homes in the first three months – up 86% on the same period in 2025 – the Kadaster said these were mainly deals between landlords and it is unclear if they will all be rented out or sold at a later date, once the sitting tenant has left.

Investors now own 9% of the total Dutch housing market, down from 9.2% a year ago. Small private landlords’ share of the market fell from 3.6% to 3.3%.

Housing minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan announced plans at the end of April to try to restore investor confidence in the rental market, by cutting property transfer taxes and relaxing some of the conditions which determine if a property falls under rent control rules or not.

Landlords’ lobby group Vastgoed Belang told the Telegraaf in a reaction to the new figures that the housing market is on the brink of seizing up completely, despite growing demand for rental properties.