The owner-occupancy requirement is a measure aimed at preventing property speculation. When purchasing a home, the buyer agrees to personally occupy the property for a specified period. This prevents homes from being bought solely for rental purposes.
Municipalities that enforce this requirement typically set a term of three to five years. As of April 1, 2022, Amsterdam introduced an owner-occupancy requirement for existing properties under a certain WOZ value threshold. Buyers are required to live in the purchased home for a minimum of four years.