Keeping rental homes cool during heatwaves is a significant issue for tenants in the Netherlands, reveals new research from the national statistics agency CBS.

According to the study, 34% of households struggled to maintain a comfortable temperature during hot weather last year. The problem is especially pronounced for renters and residents of older buildings.

Among those living in rental properties from private landlords, 55% faced difficulties with excessive heat. The issue also affected 46% of tenants in rent-controlled accommodations.

The most common remedy reported was opening windows in the evening and at night, while 60% of respondents kept their windows and curtains closed during the day to block out the heat.

The research also highlighted that less than 5% of rental homes in the Netherlands are equipped with permanent air conditioning systems, in contrast to 18% of owner-occupied homes. However, in Limburg, the southernmost region of the Netherlands, nearly one in three households has air conditioning, according to CBS.

The KNMI weather bureau forecasts that temperatures in Limburg could reach 30°C on Friday and possibly exceed that on Saturday.