How it appears in listings
You see "diplomatenclausule", "met diplomatenclausule", or in English "diplomatic clause" or "diplomat clause". The name comes from diplomats who rent out their home during a posting abroad. It says nothing about you as a tenant: it is about the owner coming back.
It is rare. Of a sample of 20,000 listings first seen on RentHunter in September and October 2026, 28 (0.14%) mention a diplomatenclausule in their description. That is a lower bound, because some owners only put it in the contract, so read the lease itself.
What it means for you
- The lease does not end by itself. The owner must give written notice by bailiff or registered letter and name the ground. The clause only counts if it was expressly agreed in the lease and the owner wants to live in the home themselves.
- You get at least 3 months' notice. The notice period is 3 months plus 1 month for each year you have rented, up to 6 months (art. 7:271 BW).
- If you do not agree, a court decides. You have 6 weeks to say whether you accept the notice. If you refuse, the owner has to go to court to end the lease.
Notice periods at a glance
| You have rented for | Minimum notice from the owner |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 3 months |
| 1 year | 4 months |
| 2 years | 5 months |
| 3 years or more | 6 months |
Until the lease ends, you keep normal huurbescherming, and you pay the same rent as before.
Not to be confused with
A diplomatenclausule is not a tijdelijk huurcontract: there is no end date by law, and the lease runs until the owner gives notice for this reason. It is also not a sale clause. A private owner of one home who lived there for at least 2 years can end a lease to sell it, but only under a separate ground (art. 7:274 lid 1 sub h BW) with strict conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Is the diplomatenclausule still legal after July 2024?
Yes. The Wet vaste huurcontracten, which made indefinite contracts the norm from 1 July 2024, kept it.
Can the owner use the clause to sell the home?
No. It covers the owner returning to live there. Selling falls under a different ground with strict conditions, and a sale alone does not end a lease.
Can the owner make me leave sooner than the notice period?
Not against your will. The notice runs at least 3 months, and if you do not agree, only a court can end the lease.
