Some Dutch private landlords are offering buyouts above €100,000 (approximately $111,495) to tenants who agree to move out, hoping to secure a higher sale price once the properties are empty.
Here's what to know
Over 50% of private investors approaching property buyer Proranje Vastgoed in the third quarter of 2026 had already tried to pay tenants to end their leases, according to NL Times.
The company specializes in purchasing tenanted homes. Its owner, Jelmer Schortinghuis, said offers commonly run to tens of thousands of euros, with rare payments topping €100,000.
Proranje Vastgoed reported that inquiries from private owners seeking to sell rental homes rose by more than 31% in the third quarter of 2026 relative to the corresponding quarter of 2025, according to the company.
Box 3 is the Netherlands' tax on wealth held in investment assets. Schortinghuis linked uncertainty about it to the increase, saying investors "still do not know exactly where they stand," NL Times reported.
Finding a comparable rental home can be difficult, the company said, while an open-ended contract at a relatively low rent gives a tenant little reason to move.
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What's being done?
Selling an occupied property becomes the fallback for many owners after efforts to negotiate a voluntary buyout fall through, according to Proranje Vastgoed.
The company buys these occupied homes and retains the leases as they are, according to NL Times, allowing owners to sell without requiring tenants to move.
"We often see that owners have already gone through a long process before they come to us," Schortinghuis said. "They have tried to get the tenant out, but selling with the tenant still there turns out to be the most realistic option."
Where can I learn more?
In the United States, landlords' decisions about vacancies, rents, and property use also shape tenants' housing options.
• Cleveland is pressuring a landlord after 80% of its homes were left vacant.
• Los Angeles landlords use an eviction loophole to convert apartments into Airbnbs before the 2028 Olympics.
• Nevada tenants face tight eviction deadlines while reform bills keep getting vetoed.
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