Rotterdam Housing Inspectors Powerless Against Landlords Exploiting Migrant Workers
Rotterdam, 16 May 2026
Despite knowing migrant workers are illegally crammed into overcrowded Rotterdam properties for excessive rents, municipal authorities have proven remarkably ineffective at stopping the exploitation. Housing inspectors report landlords openly mock their enforcement efforts, with one inspector noting that ‘landlords laugh us square in the face.’ Over four years, Rotterdam planned 714 fines but only 45 were upheld, whilst just eight inspectors oversee compliance for the entire city. The situation has become so brazen that workers are shuffled between properties every three months like a ‘carousel,’ and controllers are routinely denied building access since 2023.
The Scale of the Problem
The Carnisse district, home to approximately 6,000 properties, has become a focal point for housing exploitation in Rotterdam [1]. About one in four residents are labour migrants, making them particularly vulnerable to unscrupulous landlords [1]. Minister Hugo de Jonge described Carnisse in the summer of 2023 as ‘one of the weakest neighbourhoods in the Netherlands’, with roughly half of its homes rented by private individuals who frequently overcharge tenants [1]. This vulnerability creates a perfect storm for exploitation, as migrant workers often lack the knowledge of Dutch housing laws or the resources to challenge unfair practices.
A System of Musical Chairs
The exploitation has taken on an almost systematic character, with housing inspectors observing workers being moved between properties like pieces on a chessboard. One inspector noted seeing the same people rotating between properties owned by the same landlord every three months for an entire year [1]. This practice, described by a housing inspector as workers moving ‘like in a carousel with their belongings repeatedly through the streets’, serves to frustrate enforcement efforts whilst maximising rental income [1]. The constant movement makes it nearly impossible for authorities to establish stable cases against landlords or provide consistent support to exploited tenants.
Enforcement Failures and Mounting Frustration
The enforcement statistics paint a damning picture of municipal ineffectiveness. Between 2022 and 2025, Rotterdam planned to impose fines on landlords 714 times, yet only 45 fines were ultimately sustained [1]. Over the same four-year period, merely 19 administrative fines were successfully imposed [1]. The enforcement team’s frustration has reached a breaking point, with one inspector describing the current approach: ‘If no one opens the door, we ring the bell twice more and then the file is closed. That has become the Rotterdam approach’ [1]. This passive enforcement strategy has emboldened landlords, with one inspector stating bluntly that ‘landlords laugh us square in the face’ [1].
Promises Versus Reality
Despite repeated promises from political leaders, meaningful change remains elusive. Rotterdam alderman Chantal Zeegers declared that the city has an ‘enormous team’ ready to act firmly, asserting ‘this is really going to happen’ [1]. Similarly, Minister Hugo de Jonge has promised that ‘the bad landlords are going out of the neighbourhood’ [1]. However, these assurances ring hollow when considered alongside the enforcement reality. Rotterdam currently employs only eight inspectors to oversee compliance with two new rental laws across the entire city, a number that policy advisor Joost Breijer describes as ‘naturally far too few’ [1]. The municipality does have an additional 55 enforcers for other housing problems, but this still appears insufficient given the scale of the challenge [1]. Internal frustration has become so severe that integrity reports have been filed against supervisors who allegedly discourage controllers from investigating certain properties [1]. The municipality has confirmed these reports and stated it is investigating them whilst in discussions with the ombudsman [1].