Living and informal care
Would you like to live closer to the person who is providing informal care to you or to whom you are providing informal care? Or would you like to live closer to a relative to make it easier to help them, either now or in the future? This is possible by adding an ancillary dwelling to either of your homes for an elderly relative or for the purpose of providing informal care.
What is informal care?
Informal care refers to the help a person provides to a person they know, such as a family member, friend or neighbour, without receiving payment. This concerns help that is necessary for the receiver to continue living independently or participating in society. This help goes beyond what people would normally do for each other.
Ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care
This type of ancillary dwelling is intended for a person who receives informal care from the resident or residents of the main dwelling. Conversely, the person receiving informal care might live in the main dwelling, with the informal carer or carers living in the ancillary dwelling.
Various options for an ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care are possible:
- placing an ancillary dwelling in the garden as a temporary unit;
- converting an existing shed or garage into an ancillary dwelling;
- placing a permanent building that can initially be used as an ancillary dwelling and can later be used as a shed or garage.
Conditions for an ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care
- A maximum of 2 adults (as a household) may live in the ancillary dwelling.
- The residents of the main dwelling and the ancillary dwelling must have a social relationship. This can be as family members, or as friends or close acquaintances.
- The agreed informal care relationship must be laid down in an informal care statement.
Construction rules for an ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care
An ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care is considered a structure next to a home and does not require planning permission subject to certain conditions. This is stipulated in the temporary part of the environmental plan and in the Structures (Living Environment) Decree (Bbl).
Construction rules apply to building or placing an ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care:
- A maximum of 1 such dwelling is permitted next to a main building with a residential function.
- An ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care is only permitted if this fits within the possibilities for construction (without requiring planning permission) of the environmental plan.
- Outside of the built environment, a temporary unit for a person providing or requiring informal care of no more than 100 m² can be placed in the backyard area. It must be possible to move the structure in its entirety or in parts.
- At the conclusion of the informal care, the building is not permitted to remain as a residential space.
Ancillary dwellings for persons providing or requiring informal care are not permitted next to:
- holiday homes;
- trailers;
- listed buildings or in urban or village conservation areas;
- temporary dwellings.
Applying or reporting
An ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care does not require planning permission subject to certain conditions. You will, however, require an informal care statement.
Does the ancillary dwelling comply with the conditions for placing a structure without requiring planning permission? You should still notify the local authority. Go to the page Procedure for applying for or reporting an environment and planning permit.
Ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative
With an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative, you adapt your living situation to a care requirement that is expected to come up in the future. You move closer to the person to whom you will provide care in the future, or they move closer to you. This way, you can already get used to the new situation or, conversely, remain in a familiar environment for longer.
An ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative is possible if the person who will in the future require informal care:
- is aged 67 or above;
- suffers from a progressive disease or condition that will deteriorate in the future.
The construction and other rules that apply to ancillary dwellings for persons providing or requiring informal care also apply to ancillary dwellings for elderly relatives. The exception is that building or placing an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative does require an environment and planning permit. Go to the page Procedure for applying for or reporting an environment and planning permit. to find out how to apply for such a permit.
The permit for an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative will be valid for a maximum of 10 years.
- If an informal-care situation arises during that period, the ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative can continue as an ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care.
- If no informal-care situation has arisen after 10 years, you can apply for another environment and planning permit.
Statement declaring that you are taking care of an elderly relative
To build or place an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative or for a person providing or requiring informal care, you need a statement declaring that you are taking care of an elderly relative or an informal care statement, respectively. Contact the Amaryllis Informal Care Team on 058-3030400 or send an email to mantelzorg@amaryllisleeuwarden.nl.
From the informal care statement or the statement declaring that you are taking care of an elderly relative, it must become clear:
- that a social relationship exists between the elderly relative or the person receiving informal care and the person taking care of the elderly relative or providing informal care. Informal care is often provided by family members, but it can also be provided by friends or close acquaintances;
- how many people will live in the ancillary dwelling. The maximum is 2 people;
- why the choice was made for an ancillary dwelling. Does someone require care because of a specific disease or condition? Or is someone aged 67 or older requesting an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative?
- what care is currently or expected to be required.
Will the informal care or care for an elderly relative stop,
for example because they are moving or have passed away? In that case, you may not continue to use the ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative or for a person providing or requiring informal care as a residence. What this means:
- A temporary unit for an elderly relative or a person providing or requiring informal care will have to be torn down or removed.
- An annexe or shed that has been turned into an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative or a person providing or requiring informal care will not need to be torn down. However, you must ensure that it cannot continue to be used as a residence. This means you will have to remove the kitchen and bathroom.
Questions or more information
You can find more information about applying for a permit on the page Procedure for applying for or reporting an environmental permit.
You can find more information about informal care support on the page Informal care support.
Laws and regulations
The following regulations can be found on the website Overheid.nl (national):
- Leeuwarden 2025 policy rule on ancillary dwellings for elderly relatives.
Quick to:
What is informal care?
Informal care refers to the help a person provides to a person they know, such as a family member, friend or neighbour, without receiving payment. This concerns help that is necessary for the receiver to continue living independently or participating in society. This help goes beyond what people would normally do for each other.
Ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care
This type of ancillary dwelling is intended for a person who receives informal care from the resident or residents of the main dwelling. Conversely, the person receiving informal care might live in the main dwelling, with the informal carer or carers living in the ancillary dwelling.
Various options for an ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care are possible:
- placing an ancillary dwelling in the garden as a temporary unit;
- converting an existing shed or garage into an ancillary dwelling;
- placing a permanent building that can initially be used as an ancillary dwelling and can later be used as a shed or garage.
Conditions for an ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care
- A maximum of 2 adults (as a household) may live in the ancillary dwelling.
- The residents of the main dwelling and the ancillary dwelling must have a social relationship. This can be as family members, or as friends or close acquaintances.
- The agreed informal care relationship must be laid down in an informal care statement.
Construction rules for an ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care
An ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care is considered a structure next to a home and does not require planning permission subject to certain conditions. This is stipulated in the temporary part of the environmental plan and in the Structures (Living Environment) Decree (Bbl).
Construction rules apply to building or placing an ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care:
- A maximum of 1 such dwelling is permitted next to a main building with a residential function.
- An ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care is only permitted if this fits within the possibilities for construction (without requiring planning permission) of the environmental plan.
- Outside of the built environment, a temporary unit for a person providing or requiring informal care of no more than 100 m² can be placed in the backyard area. It must be possible to move the structure in its entirety or in parts.
- At the conclusion of the informal care, the building is not permitted to remain as a residential space.
Ancillary dwellings for persons providing or requiring informal care are not permitted next to:
- holiday homes;
- trailers;
- listed buildings or in urban or village conservation areas;
- temporary dwellings.
Applying or reporting
An ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care does not require planning permission subject to certain conditions. You will, however, require an informal care statement.
Does the ancillary dwelling comply with the conditions for placing a structure without requiring planning permission? You should still notify the local authority. Go to the page Procedure for applying for or reporting an environment and planning permit.
Ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative
With an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative, you adapt your living situation to a care requirement that is expected to come up in the future. You move closer to the person to whom you will provide care in the future, or they move closer to you. This way, you can already get used to the new situation or, conversely, remain in a familiar environment for longer.
An ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative is possible if the person who will in the future require informal care:
- is aged 67 or above;
- suffers from a progressive disease or condition that will deteriorate in the future.
The construction and other rules that apply to ancillary dwellings for persons providing or requiring informal care also apply to ancillary dwellings for elderly relatives. The exception is that building or placing an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative does require an environment and planning permit. Go to the page Procedure for applying for or reporting an environment and planning permit. to find out how to apply for such a permit.
The permit for an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative will be valid for a maximum of 10 years.
- If an informal-care situation arises during that period, the ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative can continue as an ancillary dwelling for a person providing or requiring informal care.
- If no informal-care situation has arisen after 10 years, you can apply for another environment and planning permit.
Statement declaring that you are taking care of an elderly relative
To build or place an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative or for a person providing or requiring informal care, you need a statement declaring that you are taking care of an elderly relative or an informal care statement, respectively. Contact the Amaryllis Informal Care Team on 058-3030400 or send an email to mantelzorg@amaryllisleeuwarden.nl.
From the informal care statement or the statement declaring that you are taking care of an elderly relative, it must become clear:
- that a social relationship exists between the elderly relative or the person receiving informal care and the person taking care of the elderly relative or providing informal care. Informal care is often provided by family members, but it can also be provided by friends or close acquaintances;
- how many people will live in the ancillary dwelling. The maximum is 2 people;
- why the choice was made for an ancillary dwelling. Does someone require care because of a specific disease or condition? Or is someone aged 67 or older requesting an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative?
- what care is currently or expected to be required.
Will the informal care or care for an elderly relative stop,
for example because they are moving or have passed away? In that case, you may not continue to use the ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative or for a person providing or requiring informal care as a residence. What this means:
- A temporary unit for an elderly relative or a person providing or requiring informal care will have to be torn down or removed.
- An annexe or shed that has been turned into an ancillary dwelling for an elderly relative or a person providing or requiring informal care will not need to be torn down. However, you must ensure that it cannot continue to be used as a residence. This means you will have to remove the kitchen and bathroom.
Questions or more information
You can find more information about applying for a permit on the page Procedure for applying for or reporting an environmental permit.
You can find more information about informal care support on the page Informal care support.
Laws and regulations
The following regulations can be found on the website Overheid.nl (national):
- Leeuwarden 2025 policy rule on ancillary dwellings for elderly relatives.