Where you meet it
You see it on the regional platforms that allocate social rentals and on student housing platforms. A home is offered "op inschrijfduur" when the applicant with the longest registration gets it. In English it is often called "waiting time" or "registration time", which is misleading: it counts from your registration date, even if you did nothing in the meantime.
Allocation rules are set by each municipality in its huisvestingsverordening, under the Huisvestingswet 2014. Besides inschrijfduur, homes can be allocated by lottery (loting) or with priority for urgent cases (urgentie). The rules differ per region, so check the platform where you register.
Student housing has its own platforms. ROOM.nl, for example, lets students react to the homes of several student housing providers with one registration.
What it means for you
- Register as early as you can. Your position depends on when you signed up. A year of registration you did not use still counts.
- Keep your registration alive. On most platforms you have to renew it, and if you forget, the time you built up can be lost. Note the renewal date.
- Expect a long wait in Amsterdam. In 2025, social rentals there went to people registered for 9.9 years on average, according to the federation of Amsterdam housing corporations (AFWC).
Inschrijfduur is not zoektijd
Do not confuse inschrijfduur with zoektijd (search time), which counts from when you start reacting to homes. The difference matters:
| Sofia | Mark | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered on the platform | 1 September 2018 | 1 September 2024 |
| Started reacting to homes | 2026 | 2024, every week since |
| Inschrijfduur on 1 November 2026 | 8 years and 2 months | 2 years and 2 months |
For a home allocated on inschrijfduur, Sofia ranks far ahead of Mark, even though Mark has been searching actively for two years.
If you get a social or middenhuur home, you may also need a huisvestingsvergunning, and for middenhuur your income must then fit the limits (see middenhuur). Waiting lists are not the only route for students: many rooms are let by private landlords, often after a hospiteeravond.
Frequently asked questions
Should I register even if I don't need a home now?
Yes. The clock only starts once you register, so registering early is the only way to build up inschrijfduur.
How long is the wait for social housing in Amsterdam?
Around 10 years of registration on average at allocation in 2025 (9.9 years).
Do internationals qualify for social housing?
Yes, with lawful residence in the Netherlands and an income within the limits. Check the rules of the municipality where you want to live.
