HousingAnywhere, founded in 2009 in the Netherlands, has grown to become one of Europe’s largest rental platforms. HousingAnywhere connects tenants with landlords and property managers for mid- to long-term accommodations. Operating in over 400 cities across more than 30 countries, it offers a diverse range of rental options, including rooms, studios, and apartments.
It is wise to first browse the housing offer on HousingAnywhere for free. The platform offers a variety of accommodations in cities across the Netherlands and many other countries. New listings are frequently uploaded, so it’s important to check regularly for new properties. You can use Uprent’s alerts bot to receive notifications about new listings on HousingAnywhere directly to your phone or email.
To contact landlords or book a property, you’ll need to create an account, and upgrade to premium. Click the “Sign up” button at the top right corner of the website, enter your email, full name, and set a password.
After you verify your email with a code, you can find a place that interests you and click on “Contact Landlord”. You’ll need to upgrade to a premium account.
Once you’ve upgraded to a premium account, you can contact landlords. The competition on HousingAnywhere is generally lower than on other platforms, but you still have to make sure your application stands out. Check out Uprent’s 9 Tips to Schedule More Viewings and use Uprent's browser extension to craft an effective message.
After submitting your request, the landlord will receive it. Sometimes, they may ask for additional documents to prove your financial stability.
After a landlord approves your booking request on HousingAnywhere, you will proceed with booking on the platform. It is important to remember that HousingAnywhere doesn't allow you to schedule a viewing, so you will have to trust pictures of an apartment.
First, the first month’s rent and a service fee will be charged. HousingAnywhere will hold this payment until 48 hours after your move-in date. Then, HousingAnywhere provides you with the landlord’s email and phone number. You can than communicate directly to arrange move-in details, such as arrival time and key collection. After moving in, you have 48 hours to assess the property. If it matches the listing description, HousingAnywhere releases the first month’s rent to the landlord. If there are significant discrepancies, you will have to report them within this period to seek a resolution.
HousingAnywhere is one of the few rental platforms that charge both landlords and tenants.
Tenants in the Netherlands need to purchase a subscription plan to contact landlords, with options such as a €26 plan for 2 weeks or a €34 plan for 1 month. In other countries, tenants can contact landlords for free, but pay a commission of 25 to 40% of the first month, with a minimum of €165. Probably, Dutch system is cheaper, after all, even though it requires an upfront fee.
Landlords using HousingAnywhere in any country are charged a commission fee of 25% of the first month’s rent for each successful booking, which is deducted from the payout. This fee covers access to the platform’s services, including connecting with potential tenants and managing rental payments. Landlords can also use features like payment requests to collect subsequent rent and fees through the platform, with an additional service fee of 2.5% applied to each payment request.
HousingAnywhere collects most of its reviews on TrustPilot, but they also have feedback on Facebook and several Reddit threads like this one. Users generally appreciate the platform for its intuitive website, wide selection of properties, low competition for homes, and the ease of booking entirely online.
However, many users are deeply frustrated by the inability of viewing a home and HousingAnywhere’s strict refund policy. Once you’ve made a payment, getting your money back is nearly impossible. In some cases, even when landlords agree to a refund, HousingAnywhere doesn’t allow it. This has left many renters feeling helpless and dissatisfied.
HousingAnywhere operates in over 400 cities across more than 30 countries. In the Netherlands, HousingAnywhere covers major Dutch cities and smaller towns, providing rental options for students, expats, and professionals. Key cities include Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague, as well as Eindhoven, Leiden, and Maastricht. The platform is popular for mid- to long-term rentals, offering a wide range of housing options and a straightforward booking process.
HousingAnywhere allows both private landlords and professional property managers to list their rental properties on the platform. This includes individuals renting out a single room or apartment, as well as companies managing multiple properties. To create a listing, users must register an account and provide detailed information about the property, including descriptions, photos, and availability dates. The platform offers tools to manage listings, communicate with potential tenants, and handle bookings.
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In the past, many people used Google Sheets or Notion databases to track their rental applications — or didn’t track them at all — leading to missed opportunities and forgotten applications. With Uprent, every application is automatically saved to your dashboard. This allows you to easily manage and monitor all your applications in one place. Uprent also sends reminders for important follow-ups and automates tasks like creating Google Calendar events for viewings. You can even share your dashboard with your flatmate, allowing you to collaborate on the rental search.
