Changing residential use

If you want to use all or part of a residence for a purpose other than single household occupancy, you need a permit. This is because you are changing the residential function and thus removing your home from the housing stock. This is called withdrawing a dwelling. 

Residential withdrawal occurs when:

  • You want to use a home as an office.
  • You want to merge two homes. 
  • You want to demolish a house.
  • You want to use a property for room rental.

To perform such an abstraction, you need an abstraction permit from:

  • Social housing with a rent below €900.07 per month. 
  • A mid-rent home with a rent below €1,184.82 per month or 187 points according to the Housing Rating System (WWS).
  • A house for sale with a purchase price up to €450,000 (NHG cost limit 2025).

Terms

In Zoetermeer, you will be granted permission, under the conditions mentioned below, to use a home in whole or in part for a purpose other than occupation by a household. An exception is the use of the living space as an office or practice space by the owner.

Conditions:

  • Activities must be subordinate to the residential function.
  • There must be no retail trade.
  • The traffic and/or parking pressure in the area may not increase significantly.
  • There must be no nuisance to the surrounding area.
  • In the opinion of the municipal executive, the current home(s) are so valuable in terms of social housing that they may not be withdrawn.

An application may be denied if:

  •  The above conditions are not met.
  • In the judgment of the Board of Mayor & Aldermen, the current dwelling(s) are so valuable in public housing that they should not be withdrawn.

Apply

Changing residential use

Please send with the application:

Information about current situation

  • rental or purchase price
  • number of rooms
  • living area
  • living floor
  • state of maintenance

Information about the situation if you decide to use the home differently

  • new use of the home
  • construction drawing/environmental permit
  • proposal for compensation

Information about the situation after merging 2 homes

  • new rental or purchase price
  • name of the new resident
  • number of new residents
  • written permission from the tenant

Information about the new situation for room rental

  • the rental prices
  • number of rooms for rent
  • number of new residents 

Please note! Sometimes you also need to apply for an environmental permit (for example, because you are going to build or renovate the home).

Costs

DescriptionCosts
Removing a home from housing stock€9.75

Price changes and typographical errors reserved.

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