A large share of Amsterdam's housing supply never appears on Funda or Pararius. Off-market homes are exclusively available through agent networks. We explain how it works.
If you're looking for a rental in Amsterdam and limit yourself to what's on Funda, Pararius and Huurwoningen.nl, you see only part of the supply. A substantial share of homes — estimates range from 20 to 40 percent — is never published publicly.
What are off-market homes?
Off-market homes are rentals that aren't offered through public platforms. The landlord — a private owner, institutional investor or housing corporation — prefers to let through a trusted agent. The reasons for this are:
- Privacy — not everyone wants to publish their home widely
- Efficiency — an agent pre-screens suitable candidates
- Speed — without public listing, letting is quieter and faster
- Quality control — the landlord knows the agent only forwarded reliable candidates
How do you access off-market homes?
You can only get direct access to off-market homes through a well-connected agent. For years, Urbs Living has built relationships with landlords, investors and property managers in Amsterdam and the Randstad. New homes are shared with us directly — and then go to candidates on our shortlist.
How do you get to the top of that shortlist?
When you register with Urbs Living, we build a profile based on your wishes, budget and timeline. As soon as an off-market home comes in that suits you, we get in touch immediately. The more complete and realistic your profile, the faster we can make a match.
Off-market vs. public supply: what are the differences?
Off-market homes aren't by definition cheaper or more expensive than public supply. There are, however, some typical differences:
- Less competition — you compete with a handful of candidates instead of hundreds
- Longer relationship with the landlord — through an agent there's usually more trust and stability
- More professional landlord — an agent more often works with institutional or professional landlords
Ready to get access?
Want to be considered for off-market homes too? Share your housing preferences via our rental form. We'll get in touch to discuss your wishes and add you to our active shortlist.
