What are my rights under a temporary lease?

Last updated: March 2026. Legal information is subject to change – always check the current legislation at wetten.nl.

What does the law say?

As of 1 July 2024, fixed-term tenancy agreements have largely been abolished for new tenancies. Do you still have one? Then the transitional rules apply. You have more rights than you might think – even with a fixed-term contract.

The Fixed-Term Tenancy Agreements Act came into force on 1 July 2024 and has abolished fixed-term tenancy agreements for self-contained accommodation in most cases (check this Act on wetten.nl for the most up-to-date version). In most cases, landlords can no longer offer a fixed-term contract for new tenancies. The Act applies to new tenancy agreements – existing temporary contracts concluded before 1 July 2024 are subject to transitional law.

For temporary tenancy agreements concluded before 1 July 2024, the rules that applied under the Rental Market Mobility Act remain in force. See Book 7 of the Dutch Civil Code for the provisions on temporary tenancy agreements that applied prior to the entry into force of the Fixed-Term Tenancy Agreements Act. Under that scheme, a maximum term of two years applied to self-contained accommodation, and a maximum of five years to non-self-contained accommodation (rooms).

In principle, a temporary tenancy agreement ends by operation of law on the agreed expiry date. This means the agreement ends automatically, without the need for notice. However, there is a crucial obligation on the landlord: they must give you timely notice that the agreement is ending. If they fail to do so or give notice too late, the temporary agreement continues as a fixed-term tenancy agreement. You will then be entitled to full rent protection.

The notice period the landlord must give is a minimum of one month and a maximum of three months before the end date. If you receive the notice too late – less than one month before the end date – the contract automatically continues as a fixed-term contract. This is set out in Book 7 of the Dutch Civil Code under the provisions on temporary tenancy agreements – consult wetten.nl for the exact and current text.

Even with a fixed-term tenancy agreement, you have tenancy protection in certain areas. During the term, the landlord cannot terminate the contract early – unless you have explicitly agreed this in the contract. You are entitled to undisturbed enjoyment of your home. And the landlord must remedy any defects, just as with a permanent contract.

When does this apply to you?

Contract signed before 1 July 2024

Have you signed a temporary tenancy agreement before 1 July 2024? Then the old rules apply for the duration of that agreement. Please note the following:

The contract ends on the agreed date – provided the landlord gives notice in good time.
If the landlord does not give notice or gives notice too late, the contract will continue as a fixed-term contract.
During the term, the landlord cannot terminate the contract early, unless the contract expressly permits this.

Contract concluded after 1 July 2024

Was the contract concluded after 1 July 2024? In that case, a fixed-term contract is no longer permitted in most cases. Exceptions do still apply in specific situations – such as letting to students with a campus contract, or letting by a private individual who is temporarily letting out their own home (diplomat clause). For most standard tenancies, the following applies: the contract is fixed-term and the tenant has full tenancy protection.

What if the landlord gives notice too late?

If you receive the notice less than one month before the end date, or not at all, the temporary contract automatically converts into a fixed-term tenancy agreement. You don’t need to do anything yourself – the conversion takes place by operation of law. You will then have the same protection against termination as any other tenant with a fixed-term contract.

Early termination by the landlord

Can the landlord terminate the temporary contract before the end date? No, in principle not. A temporary contract runs until the agreed date. Only if there is an explicit early termination clause in the contract can the landlord attempt to terminate it early. And even then, they need a legal basis, and the court will ultimately decide.

Rent control for temporary contracts

Even with a temporary contract, you are entitled to rent protection if your property falls within the social housing sector. You can have the initial rent assessed by the Rent Assessment Committee. This must be done within six months of the tenancy agreement coming into effect. The sector (social or private) is determined via the points system.

Step-by-step guide – what can you do now?

Check the end date of your contract. Look in your tenancy agreement to see when it expires. Make a note of that date – the landlord’s notice must reach you one to three months before that date.
Keep an eye on your letterbox. Is the end date less than three months away? Check whether you have received a notice. No letter? Then you do not need to take action yet, but keep an eye on it.
If you don’t receive a notice in time, make a note of it. Did the notice reach you less than one month before the end date, or not at all? Then your contract continues as normal. Confirm this in writing to the landlord if they ask when you’re leaving.
Respond in writing if the landlord puts pressure on you. Does the landlord want you to leave even though you know the notice was late or missing? Respond in writing. Explain that the contract has continued as a fixed-term contract and that you are not obliged to leave.
If you have doubts about the rent, request a rent review within six months. Are you possibly paying too much for the quality of the property? Request a review from the Rent Assessment Committee within six months of the start date.
Consult a solicitor if there is a dispute regarding the end of the contract. Is the landlord threatening to evict you whilst you believe your contract has continued? A solicitor at Claim.Cafe can quickly assess whether you are in the right and advise on your next steps.

Common mistakes

Mistake 1: Thinking you are obliged to leave on the expiry date. Has the landlord failed to give notice or given it too late? Then your contract has continued as a permanent contract. You are not obliged to leave. But if you say nothing yourself and simply move out, you lose your rights.

Mistake 2: Assuming that a new contract after 1 July 2024 can be a fixed-term contract. In most cases, a new fixed-term contract for standard residential accommodation is no longer permitted. Is a landlord offering you a fixed-term contract after 1 July 2024? If so, ask whether this is legally permitted in your situation. If necessary, have a lawyer check this for you.

Mistake 3: Not realising that the landlord cannot terminate the tenancy early. Many tenants believe that a temporary contract offers them less protection. However, even with a temporary contract, the landlord cannot simply terminate the tenancy during its term. If you receive a notice of termination mid-contract without valid grounds, you do not have to accept it.

Mistake 4: Applying for a rent review too late. You only have six months from the start of the contract to have the initial rent reviewed. If you wait longer, this right lapses. If you have doubts about the rent, act quickly.

Mistake 5: Moving out without documenting the situation. Has your contract automatically converted to a fixed-term contract? Document this in an email to the landlord. If you move out anyway, you will lose the protection you had. Always document your position before making a decision.

Frequently asked questions

Are temporary tenancy agreements still permitted in 2024?

For new lettings of standard residential accommodation, fixed-term contracts will largely be abolished as of 1 July 2024 under the Fixed-Term Tenancy Act. Exceptions still apply for specific situations such as campus contracts and diplomatic clauses. Existing fixed-term contracts entered into before that date are subject to transitional law.

What happens if the landlord does not give notice of the temporary contract?

If the landlord does not give you notice in good time – at least one month before the end date – the temporary tenancy agreement automatically converts into a fixed-term tenancy agreement. You will then be fully protected under tenancy law. You do not need to do anything yourself: the conversion takes place automatically.

Can the landlord terminate a fixed-term tenancy agreement early?

No, in principle not. A temporary tenancy agreement runs until the agreed end date. Termination before the end date is only possible if there is an explicit clause in the agreement allowing this. And even then, the landlord needs a legal basis and the court will decide.

Do I have rent control under a temporary tenancy agreement?

Yes, if your property falls within the social housing sector. You can have the initial rent assessed by the Rent Assessment Committee within six months of the contract coming into effect. The sector depends on the property’s points score. Check via huurcommissie.nl.

Can I terminate a temporary tenancy agreement early?

As a tenant, you cannot usually terminate a temporary contract before the agreed end date – unless the contract contains an early termination clause. Sometimes you can agree with the landlord to leave earlier, but always put this in writing. Without such an agreement, you remain liable for rent until the end date.

Relevant legal provisions

Consult the following articles via wetten.nl for the exact and current text:

Fixed-Term Tenancy Agreements Act (2024) – abolition of temporary tenancy agreements and transitional provisions
See also Book 7 of the Dutch Civil Code, section on residential tenancy law, for the provisions on temporary tenancy agreements, notice periods and the transition to a fixed-term contract
Article 7:271 of the Dutch Civil Code – termination of residential tenancy agreements
Article 7:247 of the Dutch Civil Code – applicability of rent control