Finding a rental home in Utrecht as a starter is hard. You earn too much for social housing, the private sector is too expensive and dozens of house hunters respond to every listing. Change= built a building with around 600 self-contained studios and atelier studios for working young professionals in Utrecht Leidsche Rijn. Affordable, ready to live in, right next to the station and the shopping centre, and without an agent.
What rental homes are there in Utrecht?
If you want to rent in Utrecht, you come across roughly three types of rental homes:
Social housing: through WoningNet and housing associations, with a waiting time that often runs into years in Utrecht
Mid-market and private sector: apartments, rooms and family homes through agents and rental platforms, with an income requirement of usually three to four times the monthly rent
Studios and apartments from developers such as Change=, which you rent directly from the owner
For starters and young professionals, that last group is often the shortest route to a home of your own. You are not on a waiting list for years, you do not have to share rooms and you are not competing with the whole city for one listing. Your search for a new home gets a lot shorter. Tips for that search are in best tips for finding an affordable studio in Utrecht. Not sure whether mid-market rent applies to you? Read what is mid-market rent and do you qualify.
What does a rental home in Utrecht cost? Average rents
Utrecht is one of the most expensive rental markets in the Netherlands. On the open market, rental platforms report an average of around €1,700 per month for a rental home. An apartment is in the same range. Mid-market homes sit between roughly €950 and €1,230 per month. A self-contained studio costs €870 to over €1,100 per month on the market. More about those prices is on our page about private sector rent in Utrecht.
The city centre and Wittevrouwen are the most expensive neighbourhoods. Overvecht, Kanaleneiland and Zuilen are usually more affordable. Leidsche Rijn sits in between: new-build, well connected and with plenty of homes for starters.
At Change= your rent consists of basic rent, service costs and energy. The price differs per home and is adjusted every year, so you find the current information on the registration page. If the basic rent is below the social housing limit, you may qualify for housing benefit.
Rent an apartment in Utrecht at Change=
Change= rents out two types of homes in Utrecht Leidsche Rijn:
Studio of approx. 30 or 40 m², for working young professionals who live alone. Everything about this type is on studio rental in Utrecht.
Atelier studio of approx. 40 m² plus a 12 m² loft, for creative professionals who work from home.
Every home is self-contained: your own front door, kitchen, bathroom and toilet. You share nothing except the shared facilities in the building. We do not rent out houses with several rooms; if a studio fits your wishes, you are in the right place. Still in doubt? Read living in a studio or apartment: which one suits you best.
This comes standard in your home
Laminate flooring and blackout blinds
Open kitchen with induction hob and a dishwasher connection
Washer-dryer combination
District heating with a Google Nest thermostat
High-speed internet
Your home is delivered ready to live in. Furnished is possible on request. So you move without first having to buy a sofa and a bed, and you live there within a few days of signing. Decorating on a small budget? See our budget-friendly styling tips.
The atelier studios
Are you a photographer, designer, architect or another creative professional? The atelier studios are on the ground floor and have their own entrance, high ceilings, large windows and a fixed staircase to the loft. There is also a shared creative space of 130 m². If you are self-employed, bring your Chamber of Commerce (KvK) and VAT number when you register.
More than a rental home: Networked Living
Change= calls it Networked Living: living as a service, with community at its core. Besides your home you use:
The 24/7 healthclub, with no separate membership
The workspaces, meeting rooms and auditorium of Change=Pro
A café, shared living rooms and a relaxation room
Six courtyard gardens
A reception on weekdays and a caretaker in the evening
Residents organise events and workshops together. So you do not start out alone in a new city. Also read our tips for connecting with fellow residents and the blog on networking opportunities for young professionals in Utrecht.
Rental home Utrecht Leidsche Rijn: the area
The building is at Berlijnplein 10, next to the A2 and a five-minute walk from Leidsche Rijn Centrum with supermarkets, shops and a cinema. Utrecht Leidsche Rijn station is also within walking distance; by train you are at Utrecht Centraal in a few minutes and in Amsterdam in half an hour. A parking space or storage unit can be rented separately.
Leidsche Rijn is the largest new-build project in the Netherlands and popular with young professionals in the Utrecht region. You live surrounded by green, with Máximapark around the corner, and still in the middle of the city. Read more on living in Utrecht Leidsche Rijn, in living in Leidsche Rijn: what is it really like and in city parks in Utrecht.
Do you qualify?
Change= is for working young professionals aged 18 to 36 with an income of their own. There is an income requirement; the current limit is on the registration page. The contract runs for one year and then continues for an indefinite period. You register with the municipality of Utrecht at the address of your home; how that works is in our guide on how to prepare for a move to Utrecht.
Unfortunately we cannot help students, families and people looking for a room. SSH, WoningNet and the regular rental platforms are the better route for them.
How to register
Create a profile at register.change-is.com
Upload your employment contract, three payslips and a bank statement
After approval, an intake call follows
When a suitable home becomes available, you hear it first
There is a waiting list. Register as soon as you know you want to move to Utrecht, even if it will take a while. Please have your documents complete, then approval goes faster.
Popular neighbourhoods in Utrecht to rent in
City centre: canals, terraces, everything within walking distance, but expensive and scarce
Wittevrouwen: loved by young professionals, close to the university
Lombok: lively, multicultural, next to the station
Leidsche Rijn: new-build, green, plenty of homes for starters
Overvecht and Zuilen: the most affordable rents, with good public transport
Want to know more about the city? Read the benefits of living in Utrecht. Looking for something other than a studio? Also see our pages on rental homes in Utrecht and renting an apartment in Utrecht.
Frequently asked questions about a rental home in Utrecht
How do I find a rental home in Utrecht quickly?
Register directly with landlords such as Change=, keep your documents ready and respond quickly to listings. On platforms you have the best chance if you respond within fifteen minutes; homes are often online for only a few days.
What is the average rent in Utrecht?
On the open market around €1,700 per month for a home, roughly €950 to €1,230 for mid-market rent and about €870 on average for a studio. At Change= you pay basic rent plus service costs; the current amount is on the registration page.
What is the average waiting time for a rental home in Utrecht?
For social housing often several years. At Change= there is a waiting list that varies per period. You can register at any time, even if you only want to move later.
What is the average price of an apartment in Utrecht?
A private sector rental apartment costs around €1,700 per month on average. Smaller apartments and studios are cheaper.
Can I get housing benefit at Change=?
If the basic rent is below the social housing limit, possibly yes. The conditions are on the Belastingdienst website.
Still have a question about renting in Utrecht?
Ask it during your intake call or email the reception. We are happy to think along about which home suits you.
Ready for your own rental home in Utrecht?
Register with Change= and be first in line when a studio or atelier studio becomes available