Bill on a national tenancy register open for public consultation

On 28 April 2026, the government published the bill for a national rental register for public consultation. The proposal aims to establish a central, public register in which details of rental properties and landlords are recorded. The consultation runs until 28 May 2026.

The aim of the register is to provide greater insight into the rental market, improve supervision, reduce fraud and increase transparency regarding the identity of landlords. The government intends to achieve this through a central, public register containing details for each rental property regarding the accommodation and the landlord, such as the rental reference number, the landlord’s identity, the rent, WWS points, service charges, the energy label and any previous fines.

The proposed timetable is as follows. From 2028, the first landlords will be able to register voluntarily via an online portal. From 2029, housing associations and large landlords will submit data automatically. Mandatory registration for all landlords will only apply from 2030.

A register can contribute to greater transparency and a level playing field, particularly if it makes fraudulent schemes, bogus lettings and anonymous intermediaries more difficult. The proposal also explicitly acknowledges that most landlords are reputable. 
However, there are also serious concerns:

i) Privacy and public access – A fully public register containing the names, addresses, rental prices and fines of private landlords is a far-reaching measure. The GDPR assessment will be critical.

ii) Feasibility – The landlord is the data controller: they provide all the data, keep it up to date within 31 days and confirm its accuracy annually. The quality of the register therefore depends entirely on the landlord themselves.

iii) Enforcement – The proposal itself acknowledges that a register offers only limited help against parties who deliberately wish to remain out of the picture. That is often where the biggest problem lies.

iv) Municipal capacity – Municipalities will act as regulators, but it has not yet been determined whether sufficient budget, staff and systems are available for this. A study into the financial implications for municipalities has yet to be carried out.

v) Budget – €18 million has been set aside as a start-up budget, but the proposal itself states that it is not yet clear whether this will be sufficient.

Responses to the consultation can be submitted until 28 May 2026 via: Overheid.nl | Consultation on the Rental Register Proposal.