Housing Guide
This student-contributed guide was assembled by Incognito board member Botond to help incoming students find accommodation in Maastricht. Start searching early, compare several sources, and use MyMaastricht and official university resources when you need authoritative information.
Where to look
Section titled “Where to look”Facebook groups and private listings
Section titled “Facebook groups and private listings”Private listings often advertise rooms in shared houses. They can offer direct contact with current tenants or landlords, but popular listings attract many responses and open marketplaces also attract scammers.
Check listings regularly, respond with a short introduction about yourself, and do not let artificial urgency push you into skipping basic checks.
Maastricht Housing
Section titled “Maastricht Housing”Maastricht Housing brings together listings from several housing providers. Review its current registration, eligibility, fee, and reservation information directly on the platform before relying on it.
Housing agencies and student residences
Section titled “Housing agencies and student residences”Agencies and managed student residences can be useful when you prefer a studio, a furnished room, or a single organization handling the tenancy. Compare the complete monthly cost, deposits, agency charges, contract duration, cancellation terms, and reviews—not just the advertised base rent.
Search for the agency independently instead of following only the contact details in an advertisement. A polished website or professional-looking message is not proof that a business or listing is legitimate.
Avoiding scams
Section titled “Avoiding scams”- Request an in-person or live video viewing. If that is impossible, ask someone you trust locally to attend.
- Do not send a passport or identity document until you have verified who is requesting it, why it is required, and how it will be stored. Redact details that are not needed.
- Ask for the precise address and the landlord’s or agent’s full name.
- Reverse-search listing photos and compare details across every image.
- Ask which utilities, municipal taxes, internet costs, and service charges are included.
- Confirm the rental period, notice period, deposit, and any rules concerning registration at the address.
- Read and sign a complete rental contract before transferring money.
- Treat unusual payment methods, unexplained fees, pressure to decide immediately, and refusal to provide verifiable details as serious warning signs.
A foreign phone number, an owner living abroad, or a recently created social profile is not proof of fraud by itself. Treat such details as reasons to verify the person and property more carefully.
Checking private listings
Section titled “Checking private listings”- Review the advertiser’s profile history, public activity, and whether their identity is consistent across platforms.
- Search the address, contact details, and distinctive sentences from the advertisement.
- Look for comments from other prospective tenants and reports of copied advertisements.
- Ask current occupants about the room, house, landlord, and expected handover.
- Never let a convincing viewing replace verification of the contract and the person entitled to rent out the property.
Checking agencies
Section titled “Checking agencies”- Search for the business independently and compare reviews across multiple sources.
- Verify its registration through the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.
- Check that the company name on the contract, invoice, website, and bank account is consistent.
- Ask for a written breakdown of agency fees and services before agreeing to anything.
- Be cautious if representatives avoid written answers, change payment details, or cannot explain their relationship to the property owner.
Practical tips after moving
Section titled “Practical tips after moving”Property ownership information can be requested from the Dutch Cadastre when an ownership check is appropriate.
Unfurnished rooms are manageable: Maastricht has second-hand shops, online marketplaces, and student groups where furniture is often inexpensive or free. Measure entrances and the room before arranging collection, and agree clearly on transport.
Photograph the room and any existing damage when you receive the keys. Save the signed contract, inspection report, payment records, inventory, and correspondence for the duration of the tenancy.