Dutch residential investment market splits between rental income and unit sales strategies
XLRE•Cushman & Wakefield said Dutch residential investment strategies are splitting between long-term rental income and individual unit sales. Total returns were 11.0% in 2024 and 10.1% in 2025, while H1 2026 investment volume reached EUR 3.1 billion.
1. Returns and strategies
Cushman & Wakefield flagged a split between investors seeking long-term rental income and those creating value through individual unit sales. Total returns were 11.0% in 2024 and 10.1% in 2025, above European averages of 4.2% and 5.4%, respectively.
2. Rents and investment volume
Since 2022, returns have averaged 4.1%, including 3.0 percentage points from income as capital growth faded. Market rents rose 7.4% in 2025, and average annual rental growth was 5.7% over the four years through end-2025 amid tighter regulation. H1 2026 residential investment volume reached EUR 3.1 billion; investors favored new-builds for lower costs, while older stock was increasingly sold unit-by-unit.
