The Landlord's Due Diligence: What Are They Checking?
When you submit a rental application, you are not just being judged on your income. Landlords and real estate agents will often conduct what they call a 'credit and background check' to build a more complete picture of you as a potential tenant. However, these checks in the Netherlands are generally less invasive than what one might expect in other countries, like the United States. The screening process is typically focused on verifying the information you have already provided.
- Employment and Income Verification: This is the most important part. The agent will scrutinize your submitted documents, such as your employment contract and recent payslips (loonstroken). They may call the Human Resources department of your employer to confirm that you are indeed employed there and that your contract details are correct. They are verifying your stability and ability to pay.
- Credit Check: A formal credit check often involves a query to the Bureau Krediet Registratie (BKR). The BKR is a Dutch institution that maintains a central database of consumer loans and payment histories. A 'negative BKR registration' indicates a history of defaulting on loans or other credit agreements, which is a major red flag for a landlord. For most expats and young people, the result will likely be 'no record found,' which is neutral, not negative.
- Background Check: This is a very broad term. In this context, it rarely means a formal criminal background check. More commonly, it involves checking public records, Googling your name, and checking your social media profiles to see if any obvious red flags appear. They may also attempt to contact your previous landlord, if you have one, to ask about your tenancy history.
Your Rights and Privacy (AVG/GDPR)
The process of screening tenants is not a free-for-all for landlords; it is strictly governed by privacy laws, specifically the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), known in the Netherlands as the Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming (AVG). A landlord or agent cannot legally collect your personal data without a legitimate reason and without your explicit consent. They must be transparent about what information they are collecting and for what specific purpose—in this case, to assess your suitability as a tenant. You will almost certainly be asked to sign a consent form authorizing them to conduct these checks.
Under the AVG, the principle of 'data minimization' applies. This means they can only request and process data that is strictly necessary for the purpose. For a rental application, this includes your identity, contact details, and financial information relevant to your ability to pay rent. It does not include sensitive information such as your medical history, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. A landlord asking for such information is violating the law. Furthermore, you have a right to protect your identity. When providing a copy of your ID card or passport, you are strongly advised to use the official 'KopieID' government app or manually redact your citizen service number (BSN), your photo, and your signature to prevent identity theft. This is a standard and expected security practice in the Netherlands.
Common Practices and Red Flags
The standard document package for a rental application in the Netherlands is extensive. You should be prepared to provide:
- A copy of your ID (with sensitive parts redacted).
- Proof of income for the last three months (payslips).
- A copy of your employment contract.
- Sometimes, a letter from your employer confirming your position and salary (werkgeversverklaring).
- Sometimes, a bank statement showing the deposit of your salary.
While this feels invasive, it is standard practice. The primary red flag to watch for is not the request for documents, but the demand for money upfront. Some dubious agencies or landlords may ask for a non-refundable 'administration fee' (administratiekosten) or 'screening fee' simply to process your application and run these checks. While landlords can have legitimate costs, excessive, non-refundable fees charged to every applicant are often a scam. They make money by processing dozens of applications for a single property with no intention of renting to most of them. Be very wary of paying anything more than a small, justifiable fee before a contract is even on the table.
