Can someone else attend a rental viewing for you? Yes — here's what to send the agent
By Enes Güngör · Updated
Yes. In the Netherlands someone else can attend a rental viewing on your behalf — a friend, a colleague or a SpotView viewer. Most agents and landlords are fine with it as long as they're told in advance and the person brings ID. Housing corporations often have a formal authorisation (machtiging) for exactly this.
What goes wrong is surprise: a stranger turns up, the agent wasn't told, and the door stays closed. One short message, sent as soon as your slot is confirmed, prevents that. Below are ready-to-send versions in English and Dutch.
When to send it
As soon as the viewing is confirmed, and at least a day before it. Reply in the same email or chat thread where the agent confirmed the slot, so they see it next to your booking instead of as a new message from an unknown sender.
If you don't know your viewer's name yet, send the message without it now, and follow up with the name once someone has accepted the job. Don't wait for the name to send the first message.
The message, in English
Fill in the parts in brackets. Keep it short — the agent is scheduling a dozen other viewings that day.
Dear [agent's name],
Thank you for confirming the viewing of [address] on [date] at [time].
I can't attend in person, so [viewer's name] will attend on my behalf. They will bring valid ID, look around the home for me and ask a few questions I've prepared. I'll make the decision myself and get back to you as soon as possible after the viewing.
Could you confirm this is fine? If you need a signed authorisation or anything else, I'm happy to send it in advance.
Kind regards,
[your name]
[phone number]The message, in Dutch
If the listing and the agent's emails are in Dutch, reply in Dutch. It's a small courtesy that tends to get a faster yes.
Beste [naam makelaar],
Bedankt voor de bevestiging van de bezichtiging van [adres] op [datum] om [tijd].
Ik kan er zelf niet bij zijn. In mijn plaats komt [naam viewer]. [Naam viewer] neemt een geldig identiteitsbewijs mee, bekijkt de woning voor mij en stelt een paar vragen die ik heb voorbereid. De beslissing neem ik zelf, en ik laat zo snel mogelijk na de bezichtiging van me horen.
Kunt u bevestigen dat dit akkoord is? Als u een machtiging of andere gegevens nodig heeft, stuur ik die graag vooraf.
Met vriendelijke groet,
[uw naam]
[telefoonnummer]What the agent may ask
“Can the person decide for you?”
No, and say so. Your representative looks, asks and reports; you decide. Agents usually prefer this — it means they're not negotiating with someone who can't commit.
“We need a signed authorisation (machtiging).”
Common with housing corporations. Ask for their form, or write a short signed note: your name, the address, the date, and the name of the person attending for you.
“Send a copy of your ID.”
Only send it to an agency you've verified, and use the government's KopieID app to cross out your BSN and photo and add a watermark saying who it's for. Never send ID to a 'landlord' you've only spoken to by chat.
“Will you apply after the viewing?”
Say yes if you mean to, and have your documents ready to send the same day — proof of income, employer statement, ID. Good flats go to whoever is complete first.
If the agent says no
Ask why. Often it's a misunderstanding — they think the person will sign or negotiate for you. Explaining that they won't is usually enough.
If the answer stays no, believe it: don't send someone anyway. And if a 'landlord' refuses any viewing at all — by you or anyone else — but still wants a deposit, that isn't a strict landlord, it's the most common rental scam in the Netherlands.
What your representative should do there
Turn up on time with ID, introduce themselves as the person you mentioned, and then work through the same 24 checks and 10 questions our viewers use. Photos of every room, a short video, and the agent's answers written down word for word.
The full viewing checklist