Housing

Housing stock in the Eindhoven region and across the Netherlands varies from studio apartments (a single room including sleeping area, living area and cooking facilities), through more traditional apartments with multiple, separate bedrooms, to larger houses (detached, semi-detached, or terraced).

Houses for rent are available in three different states of furnishing:

• Bare (kaal). There are no carpets, curtains, light fittings, etc., though there probably will be a fitted kitchen. Built-in appliances such as a cooker and possibly a fridge or dishwasher may be present.

• Soft-furnished (gestoffeerd). The fittings will include everything in the "bare" category, and also carpets and curtains.

• Furnished (gemeubileerd). Completely furnished - generally including furniture, appliances, cutlery, crockery, bed linen, etc.

What to expect (a typical home in Eindhoven):

• Houses are smaller and more compact than in many countries.

• One bathroom in the Netherlands is the norm. The toilet is often separate and on the ground floor.

• Showers are more common than baths in most houses and apartments.

• Dining rooms are a luxury - normally there is an open kitchen and living room with a dining area.

• Kitchens generally have four gas rings with a microwave. Ovens are not always standard.

• Washing machines are often located in the kitchen or the bathroom. Utility rooms are found only in larger houses.

• Garages tend to be used as storage space in the Netherlands.

• Parking permits are needed in some areas, particularly if you are living in central Eindhoven.

• Houses are well insulated, and newer buildings will be double-glazed.

Renting a house

Municipal housing agencies:

You can only register for local authority housing after arrival in the Netherlands and must wait for a house to be allocated to you. Be aware that waiting lists often exceed three years. Housing is relatively cheap (€400 to €800 per month, unfurnished). However, to qualify for this type of housing your income generally cannot exceed a certain amount.

Housing Associations:

These provide slightly more expensive housing than the municipal agencies and again have long waiting lists. You need to register on arrival.

Estate agents and "high street" housing agencies manage private rental housing. The rental price for these houses is considerably higher than accommodation found through a municipal agency or an association, but in general these houses are available for immediate tenancy.

Rents vary widely, but in the private market you could expect to pay the following (excluding service costs and utilities):

Dutch housing rental contracts generally consist of the actual contract plus "General Terms and Conditions". The latter document is standard for all properties rented by the agency in question. Major points to look for in the contract are:

• The correct rental price (whether it includes service charges and energy bills, etc.)

• The correct deposit (one or two months rent is normal).

• The correct date of entry.

• Duration of the contract. Most are fixed for one year, with a notice period of one month from either party thereafter. If the house belongs to someone who might want it back at an inconvenient time (e.g. someone on assignment outside the Netherlands), it may be better to fix the contract for a longer period.

• Who is responsible for maintenance and repairs? Make sure it is clear who looks after the garden as well as the building.

• The "diplomatic clause". It is advisable for expats to insist on a clause allowing them to break the contract quickly if they need to return to their home country unexpectedly.

Who to contact

House rental organisations can be found in the Yellow Pages (www.goudengids.nl) under woningbureaus or woning verhuur.

Buying a house

Although it is probably better to rent for a while before buying a house, the difference in monthly payments can make purchasing an attractive option for those staying longer. The difference comes largely from the fact that (for the time being at least) the Dutch government repays some of the mortgage interest as tax relief.

The amount of interest repaid by the government depends on the level of income tax you pay. This in turn will depend on factors such as the 30% ruling (see the section on tax above) as well as gross salary. This is a complex field and it is advisable to seek help from a professional financial advisor before going ahead with any purchase.

You should also be aware when buying a house that costs of purchase (including taxes) total around 10% of the cost price, and are paid by the buyer. Dutch house prices have risen relatively slowly over the last few years, averaging around 3% per year.

Who to contact

• A complete list of rental agencies with telephone number and website can be found in the Yellow Pages (http://www.goudengids.nl) under woningbureaus or woning verhuur.

• House purchases are generally made through a real estate agent (makelaar). There are many agents in the Eindhoven area, each with its own housing stock. The website http://www.funda.nl/ (dutch) lists most houses available for purchase.

• Check with your HR Manager for housing assistance from your company.

• If you need to furnish a new home, Ekkersrijt and Kanaaldijk in Eindhoven are good places to look for furniture stores. For cheap second-hand furniture, the Het Goed recycling company has two outlets in the region, at Meerenakkerweg 2 in Eindhoven and Van Linschotenstraat 22 in Valkenswaard.