The Waiting Game and Its Vague Milestones
After a prospective tenant has navigated the viewings, gathered all the required invasive documentation, and submitted their application, they enter a phase often characterized by anxious waiting and opaque communication. Rental platforms and real estate agencies use various application statuses to indicate where an application is in the pipeline. While these labels are intended to provide clarity, they often do little to alleviate the stress of the process, as the time spent in each stage is unpredictable and the reasons for moving between them are rarely explained. Understanding these statuses is key to managing expectations in a process where the applicant has almost no control.
Status: 'Pending' (In behandeling)
This is the initial and often longest stage. Once your application is submitted, it will be marked as 'Pending' or 'Under Review'. This simply means that the landlord or agent has received your file and it is in a queue to be evaluated. In a highly competitive market, your application could be one of dozens, or even hundreds, for a single property. The 'pending' status offers no indication of your chances or where you are in the queue. It is a period of complete uncertainty. An applicant might wait for days or even weeks without any update, a phenomenon known as being 'ghosted' by the agent. Following up is possible, but the response is often a non-committal "we are still reviewing applications and will let you know."
Status: 'Denied' (Afgewezen)
This is the most common outcome for the majority of applicants in a competitive market. 'Denied', 'Rejected', or 'Unsuccessful' means the landlord has selected another candidate. The most frustrating aspect of this status is the profound lack of feedback. Landlords and agents are not legally required to provide a reason for their decision. To avoid potential accusations of discrimination, they will almost always give a generic, unhelpful explanation such as "the landlord has proceeded with another candidate" or "your profile was not the best match." This leaves the applicant with no information on how to improve their next application. Was their income too low? Was their file incomplete? Or were they simply unlucky and another, more qualified candidate applied? The system is a black box that provides no opportunity for learning or improvement.
Other Potential Statuses
While less common, some more sophisticated systems might use additional statuses to provide a bit more detail, though transparency remains an issue:
- Shortlisted (
Op de shortlist): A positive sign, indicating you have passed the initial screening and are in a smaller pool of final candidates being considered by the landlord.
- Awaiting Documents (
Wachtend op documenten): This indicates your application is incomplete and the agent is waiting for you to provide additional information.
- Approved (
Goedgekeurd): The final, coveted status, meaning you have been selected for the property and will be sent a draft rental agreement.
