How it appears in listings
You see it as verhuurdersverklaring or "verklaring van de vorige verhuurder", and on English pages as "landlord statement", "landlord reference" or "landlord declaration". It usually sits in the list of documents you send with an application, next to payslips, an employment contract and a copy of your ID.
It rarely appears in the ad itself. Of 20,000 listings that appeared on RentHunter between 19 September and 19 October 2026, 79 (0.4%) mention it in the description. Expect it instead in the document checklist you get when you apply.
What it means for you
- The landlord wants proof you are a low-risk tenant. The statement covers three points: rent paid on time, no nuisance, and the home left in order. It works alongside your income documents, not instead of them.
- Asking for it is allowed, but selection must be fair. Under the Wet goed verhuurderschap, landlords and agents must select tenants on objective, non-discriminatory criteria, and since 1 January 2024 they must have a written, published selection procedure.
- You cannot always get one. The rental rules in the Civil Code do not mention it, and nothing in them makes a previous landlord write one. If yours is unreachable, or you have never rented before, prepare an alternative early.
What to offer instead
If you come from abroad or this is your first rental, you can offer:
- a reference letter from your landlord in your home country, with their contact details
- bank statements showing your rent payments
- recent payslips or an employer statement confirming your contract and salary
If the agent works for the landlord, checking your documents is part of that job. An agent who acts for the landlord may not also charge you bemiddelingskosten for it.
Not to be confused with
A verhuurdersverklaring is not the consent form ("toestemming hoofdbewoner") you may need to register at someone else's address. It is also not a credit check, and not a certificate of conduct (VOG). In a shared house, the current housemates may choose you at a hospiteeravond before the landlord asks for any reference.
Frequently asked questions
Is a landlord allowed to ask for a verhuurdersverklaring?
Yes, asking is allowed and common. There is no law that forces you to provide one, but without it you may need other proof that you are a reliable tenant.
I never rented in the Netherlands. What can I give instead?
A reference from your landlord abroad, bank statements showing your rent payments, or payslips and an employer letter. Send them with your application so the landlord does not have to ask.
Can a landlord ask a higher deposit because I have no verhuurdersverklaring?
Not above the legal cap. For contracts signed since 1 July 2023, the borg is at most two months of base rent, with or without a reference.
