Glossary of workforce accommodation terms

The Dutch worker-housing world is full of acronyms and legal terms. Here is what the important ones actually mean.

SNF

Stichting Normering Flexwonen — the Dutch national norm for housing labour migrants. It sets minimum standards on living space, sanitary facilities, fire safety, hygiene, information provision and management, and certified accommodation is audited against it. compliant worker housing.

Arbeidsmigrant

A labour migrant — an international worker who comes to the Netherlands to work, often through a staffing agency. Their housing is subject to SNF norms and municipal permit rules. Labour & manpower accommodation.

BRP

Basisregistratie Personen — the Dutch municipal personal records database. Workers staying longer must be registered in the BRP at their address; correct registration is part of compliant worker housing.

RNI

Registratie Niet-Ingezetenen — the register for non-residents. Short-stay international workers who are not registering in the BRP obtain a BSN (citizen service number) through the RNI so they can be paid and taxed correctly.

Verhuurvergunning

A municipal rental/lodging permit. Many Randstad municipalities require a permit to let rooms or operate lodging (logies), tied to zoning; operating without one risks enforcement and closure. Compliance.

Wet goed verhuurderschap

The Good Landlordship Act — Dutch law setting rules on fair rents, clear contracts, deposits and providing information in the tenant’s own language. Managed worker housing must align with it. Compliance.

Per property per month

The standard commercial unit for company accommodation: one all-in price charged per whole furnished property per month, covering the home, utilities, wifi, linen, cleaning and compliance — rather than renting whole apartments on fixed leases. How it works.

Mobilisation

The process of bringing a crew onto a project — arranging travel, housing and site access so workers can start. Fast mobilisation of properties at short notice is central to project accommodation. Project & crew accommodation.

Turnaround (TAR) / Shutdown

A planned period when an industrial plant — typically a refinery or petrochemical site — is taken offline for maintenance. Hundreds of specialist workers arrive for a fixed window, work around the clock, and leave on restart. Turnaround & shutdown.

M&E

Mechanical & Electrical — the building-services trades (HVAC, power, controls, piping) that dominate data-centre fit-outs and industrial projects, and a major source of workforce accommodation demand. Data centre construction.