Declaration of consent to register a business or organisation at a home address

Every business and organisation must have a visiting address and a postal address listed in the Business Register. If an owner (director) or official of the business does not live at that address, KVK needs proof that it uses that address.

In some cases, the owner or official may use a declaration of consent form to show it. There are strict rules for this. Read more about providing proof of a visiting or postal address.

Conditions for a declaration of consent

Does a business or organisation does not have a service agreement, rental contract, or purchase agreement for the use of your home? Then it may, in some situations, use a declaration consent form as proof. By filling in this form, you, the homeowner, give a business or organisation permission to use your home as a visiting and/or postal address in the Business Register.

These are the conditions:

1. According to the Basic Register of Addresses and Buildings in the Netherlands (in Dutch), the address is a home.
2. The business or organisation does not have a rental contract, purchase contract, or service agreement to use the home address.
3. The activities of the business or organisation take place at the home. And these activities must be permitted there.
4. An owner or co-owner of the home must sign the declaration of consent. This person must be registered as the owner in the Dutch Land Registry (Kadaster). If a business or organisation owns the property, one of its officials or directors must sign the declaration of consent.
5. The property owner must also get consent from all tenants for the business or organisation to be registered at the property's address. The homeowner must inform the tenants about the risks involved.

Examples of when a declaration of consent may or may not be used

Below are 4 examples. Each example explains whether the declaration of consent form may or may not be used.

Example 1

Youssef lives in a rented room. In addition to his studies, he has a consultancy business. He works from his student room and his parents’ house. His parents own their home.

Youssef is registered in the Personal Records Database at the address of his student room. But he wants to register his business at his parents’ home address. Youssef does not have a rental contract with his parents and is not the owner of the house.

Youssef can be contacted at his parents’ home address and also works there for his business. That is why he can register his consultancy at this address using a declaration of consent.

Example 2

Tomas is a freelance scaffolder from Poland. He commutes between his home address in Poland and his work at various locations in the Netherlands. When he is in the Netherlands, he sleeps in a hotel near his assignment. Tomas has no permanent residence in the Netherlands.

To register his sole proprietorship in the Business Register, Tomas needs a visiting address. Only persons who live in the border region with Belgium or Germany can use their foreign address as a visiting address.

The hotel address may not be registered as a visiting address in the Business Register. He may not use a letter of consent signed by the hotel either.

To have a visiting address, Tomas must rent or buy a residential or business property. Tomas must be physically accessible at that address.

Example 3

Mirthe is a freelancer who makes websites from her home. She lives with her parents in a rented house. Mirthe is not the owner of the house and does not have a rental contract. But she may still register her business at her home address.

She can be contacted at the address and works from home. She does not need a declaration of consent because she is registered at that address in the Personal Records Database.

Example 4

Andrej does freelance construction work and comes from Romania. He commutes between his home in Romania and the Netherlands. He never stays in the Netherlands for more than 4 months at a time. So he does not have to register at his Dutch home address. Andrej does not want to anyway, because it would mean emigrating from Romania.

In the Netherlands, Andrej lives with other freelancers from Romania, in a house owned by his client. Andrej does not have a rental contract. His client deducts the cost of housing from his earnings for the work he does.

The client can authorise Andrej to register his business at that residential address in the Business Register. This is possible because the client is also the owner of the property. The owner does not need to live in the house to complete a declaration of consent. The owner must inform the occupants of the property of the risks involved and obtain their consent before registering a business or organisation at the residential address.

Risks for tenants and homeowners

There are risks for tenants and homeowners when a business or organisation is registered at their address. For example, the declaration may affect their benefits, rental contract, or insurance policies.

The homeowner also cannot withdraw the consent. Only an owner or official of the business or organisation can change the registered address in the Business Register. If the house is sold, the new owner cannot remove the consent either. This can be stressful for the tenants or owner.

Does the business or organisation have debts? If so, officials from the Netherlands Tax Administration or a debt collecting agency, for example, may visit its registered address.

First, check whether this will affect:

• benefits from the Tax Administration
• social allowances or benefits
• insurance policies

Also, check whether this is allowed under:

• the rental contract
• the mortgage terms
• the municipality’s environment plan

If you do not live in the home yourself, you must inform the occupants of the home about the risks. They must also agree to a business or organisation being registered at their address in the Business Register. By signing the declaration of consent form, you confirm that the tenants have been told about these risks and have no objections.

Do not forget to tell future tenants or residents that a business or organisation is registered at the home address. If you sell the property and the business or organisation is moving, the owner or an official must register the new visiting and postal address with KVK.

Filling in the declaration of consent form

The homeowner can fill in the form online and print it. You can also print the form and then fill it in by hand. In both situations, handwritten signatures are needed.

Does the home have multiple owners? In that case, you give consent on behalf of all owners. Is the homeowner a business or organisation? In that case, an official of the business or organisation must sign the form.

Does the owner or official have an appointment with KVK to register the business or organisation in the Business Register? If so, they must bring the declaration of consent form and a copy of a valid proof of identity of the person who signs the consent form.

If the business or organisation is already listed in the Business Register and changes its visiting or postal address, the owner or official can send the declaration of consent form with the change form to KVK online. This can also be done by post. You also download change forms.

The owner or official must also include a copy of a valid proof of identity belonging to the person who signs the declaration of consent form.

Download the declaration of consent form