Partner with City Retreat to Maximise Your Amsterdam Rental Income

City Retreat has been managing furnished apartments for Amsterdam landlords since 2012, connecting property owners with vetted expats, corporate professionals, and international assignees on flexible mid-term contracts. If you're considering listing your Amsterdam property as a serviced apartment, we make the process straightforward from day one.

To get started, email bookings@cityretreat.com with your contact details and a brief description of your property. Our team will review your information and get in touch to discuss next steps.

Check Your WWS Points Before You List

Before listing your Amsterdam property, it's worth confirming whether it falls under rent control or qualifies for free-market pricing. Under Dutch law, properties scoring below 187 WWS points are subject to a legally capped rent — which could significantly affect your expected income. Our partners at Bright Brick offer a free rental estimator and WWS points guide specifically designed for Amsterdam landlords. Check your property's rental value and WWS status here →

How the Onboarding Process Works

We've designed our landlord onboarding process to be as simple and transparent as possible. Here's what to expect from start to finish.

Step 1 — Meet Our Apartment Handover Requirements

City Retreat apartments must meet a defined standard before we can go live with corporate bookings. Because most corporate clients book without viewing in person, setting clear expectations from the outset is essential. Your property must be fully furnished — tenants should be able to move in with nothing but a suitcase. Personal items including clothing, private devices, and valuable artwork should be removed or placed in secure storage.

Prior to handover, the following must be in place:

• 3 sets of keys, plus 1 additional set per bedroom beyond the first (e.g. 2 bedrooms = 4 sets)
• No outstanding maintenance issues; all electrics, switches, and bulbs in working order
• Full kitchen equipment: utensils, cooking equipment, and cutlery
• 200cm x 200cm duvets and four pillows per bed
• Blackout curtains or blinds on all bedroom windows
• Hairdryer, iron, and ironing board
• Full cleaning equipment (vacuum, mop, bucket)
• Access to a washing machine — in-unit or within the building
• A functioning dryer, or a good-quality drying rack if a dryer is not feasible
• A table, chair, and nearby power socket for working from home
• Property deep cleaned prior to handover — City Retreat arranges all cleaning during and after each tenancy

All utilities (gas, electricity, water) must be included up to a reasonable usage level, and the property must offer high-speed Wi-Fi with no data limits or additional costs. We accept entire apartments only — subletting of individual rooms or sections is not permitted. You must also be the legal owner of the property, or hold written permission from the owner to rent it out as a furnished apartment.

Step 2 — Provide Photos and a List of Amenities

Once your property is ready, send City Retreat your photos and a full amenities list. We'll use these to market your property and match it with suitable tenant candidates. For each candidate, we'll share their required dates, proposed rent, who would be staying, the reason for the stay, and whether pets or smokers are involved — so you can make an informed decision before committing.

Step 3 — Approve a Candidate and Sign the Service Agreement

When you approve a candidate, we secure the tenancy agreement with the tenant and then visit your property to carry out an initial inspection and collect one set of keys. We'll send you our property management agreement via DocuSign. This agreement only needs to be signed once — it covers all future tenancies managed by City Retreat.

Step 4 — Share Your Property Information

To set up smooth day-to-day management, we ask you to email the following to bookings@cityretreat.com:

• House and VVE rules (by default: no parties, no smoking, no pets without prior consent, respect for neighbours, and energy-conscious use)
• A property manual covering appliance instructions, Wi-Fi login, post collection, garbage disposal, and any useful local information
• Your bank details for rent payments
• Boiler service history and preferred boiler maintenance supplier (if applicable)
• Preferred supplier for general maintenance such as electrical, plumbing, or miscellaneous repairs (if applicable)

Step 5 — Leave the Rest to Us

Once onboarding is complete, there's very little left for you to do. City Retreat handles all tenant communication, check-ins, check-outs, cleaning coordination, and maintenance. You receive your rent on time and a signed inspection report before and after every tenancy.

What's Included in Our Property Management Service

Our property management fee is 20% per month, deducted from the rental income. You receive payment from City Retreat directly, regardless of any delays on the tenant's side. The fee covers:

• Advising on final preparation and presentation of the property
• Drafting a legally compliant tenancy agreement
• Sourcing and presenting vetted tenant candidates for your approval
• Managing rent collection, deposit handling, and ongoing payments
• Professional cleaning before, during, and after each tenancy
• Supply of linens and towels (duvets must be 200cm x 200cm)
• Check-in with a signed inspection report
• Acting as the primary point of contact for all tenant queries
• 24-hour emergency tenant support
• Coordinating maintenance with vetted, competitively priced contractors
• Managing lease extensions subject to owner approval
• Recommending property improvements to increase rental value
• Check-out with a signed inspection report

Whether you own a single apartment or a portfolio of properties, City Retreat gives you the returns without the hassle. Get in touch today to find out how we can work together.