Landlords selling en masse: housing market shifts due to surge in de-rented properties
Marnix Hazelhoff
15 April 2025
Reading time 5 minutes
The Dutch housing market has had a striking start to 2025. For the first time in a while, supply in the owner-occupied market is seeing a serious boost, and surprisingly, that boost is coming from private landlords. Nearly 34,000 homes were sold through NVM real estate agents in the first quarter of the year — a 13% increase compared to the same period in 2024. At the heart of this growth is one key trend: the de-renting of rental homes.
De-renting as a catalyst
De-renting, the selling of rental homes once tenants move out, is gaining momentum. Due to stricter regulations, rising costs, and lower returns, many landlords are choosing to sell. Apartments, in particular, are being put on the market in large numbers. The result: a growing supply of homes for sale and a slight cooling of average prices.
Prices dip slightly, but overbidding continues
The average sale price for existing homes in Q1 dropped slightly to €473,000: A 1.8% decrease from the previous quarter. Still, prices remain nearly 10% higher than they were in early 2024. Buyers are paying an average of 4.4% above asking price, signaling that the market is still highly competitive despite more homes becoming available.
In high-demand segments like terraced houses, the gap between asking and sale price can reach 6.6%. Only in the detached home segment are buyers managing to negotiate slightly below asking prices.
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Still not a buyer’s market
The supply of homes for sale increased by 15% to almost 26,000 properties. As a result, buyers now have more choice: on average, they can choose from 2.3 homes that match their search criteria. This is up from 1.7 homes in the first quarter of 2024.
While that sounds like progress, it’s still far from a buyer’s market. A balanced market typically offers a “tightness indicator” of 5 or more. At 2.3, sellers still largely call the shots, especially in popular segments like apartments and terraced homes.
The increased choice is mainly driven by the wave of de-rented properties, particularly in urban areas where private landlords have traditionally held strong positions. In some neighborhoods, the supply of apartments has doubled.
New construction: still expensive
The new-build market paints a different picture. Although the number of new-build sales remained steady at around 6,740 homes, the average price rose to €492,000. Affordable ground-level homes are becoming rare, leaving mainly pricier apartments and luxury projects.
Despite the growing inventory, affordability remains a major concern. Many first-time buyers and people looking to move up the housing ladder are still struggling to secure a suitable home.
