Huurdersdossier

Huurdersdossier, or tenant dossier, is a file kept by landlords, housing associations, or property managers containing information about a (prospective) tenant. It is used to assess suitability for a rental property and to manage tenancy risk. The dossier may include personal details (name, address, date of birth), employment and income information, rental history and references, and a record of incidents such as late payments, complaints, nuisance, property damage, or violations of house rules. It may also contain credit checks, references from previous landlords, or notes about participation in housing schemes.

In practice, such dossiers are used in screening processes for new rentals and can influence decisions about offering a lease, setting rent terms, imposing conditions, or initiating enforcement or eviction procedures. Privacy and data protection norms apply. In the Netherlands, processing of personal data for huurdersdossiers falls under the General Data Protection Regulation (AVG/GDPR) and national privacy laws. Tenants have rights to access their file, rectify inaccuracies, request deletion after the tenancy ends, and object to improper processing. Data minimization and security requirements apply; data should only be retained as long as necessary and shared only with authorized parties under a lawful basis.

Criticism and safeguards: The concept raises concerns about privacy, potential discrimination, and the risk of inaccuracies. Authorities and tenant organizations advocate transparency, consent where appropriate, standardized criteria, limited retention, and clear appeal mechanisms. Some landlords restrict use or publish guidelines to ensure fair practice.