Home rental prices continue on a dramatic rise

Home rental prices in the private sector continued its increase in the fourth quarter of 2015. The average price per square meter amounted to 9.68 euros, 5.1 percent higher than at the end of 2014 and 1.7 percent higher than in the third quarter of 2013, according to figures from realtors association NVM and the association of property managers VGM NL, NU reports. Rental prices were the highest in Amsterdam with 14.88 euros per square meter. I the cities of Rotterdam, Groningen, The Hague, Utrecht and Den Bosch, the average rents were between 10 and 11 euros per square meter. Noord-Holland was the most expensive province in the fourth quarter of last year with 12.59 euros per square meter. Followed by Utrecht and Zuid Holland with 10.20 and 9.94 euros respectively. Limburg and Friesland had the lowest rents with 7.97 and 7.71 euros respectively. In their press release the NVM and VGM NL also touched on a recently adopted housing law which is intended to improve traffic flow on the rental market. It includes a different calculation method for rent and more opportunities for temporary leases. The associations call the law "a good step" but "still far too limited". "In order to prevent housing shortage in the private rental sector, quick and drastic measures are urgently needed. The rental sector does not have 30 years time for reforms", they write.