Certificate of urgency for Frisian municipalities

A certificate of urgency gives you priority when looking for social housing. This means your turn will come sooner. You can only get a certificate of urgency if you are in urgent need of a different home. There are rules for obtaining a certificate of urgency. Not everyone can get one. The 18 Frisian municipalities, housing corporations and organisations that assist people collaborate on this. They make agreements about the certificate of urgency. These rules are laid down by law.

Do not pay for assistance with the application

Some commercial agencies may offer to take care of the urgency application on your behalf against payment. This is not necessary, because:

• It does not increase the chance that you will obtain a certificate of urgency.
• All applications are assessed in the same way.
• Assistance from the local authority or a social worker is free.

You can apply for a certificate of urgency if you urgently need a different home and can find no other solution.

The following groups may be eligible for a certificate of urgency:

• people providing or receiving informal care;
• people who urgently need different accommodation due to a severe and chronic medical situation;
• people leaving emergency accommodation;
• people leaving sheltered accommodation;
• people leaving a mental healthcare facility;
• people leaving residential youth assistance;
• people leaving a detention facility;
• people leaving a shelter for victims of domestic abuse or human trafficking;
• people participating in an exit programme for sex workers;
• status holders.

Homeless families with children

We are working on a supplementary scheme for homeless families with children. We are working on this together with involved organisations. The aim is to make this group eligible for certificates of urgency as well over the course of 2027.

For an application, you will need:

• your DigiD;
• a valid proof of identity (if you are not submitting the application online);
• a proof of registration as a house seeker.

Supplementary documents

You will need to provide documents to back up your situation. Depending on your situation:

• a medical statement;
• documents concerning a divorce or ending of a relationship;
• a statement from a care provider;
• proof that you stayed in a shelter or healthcare institution; other relevant documents.

The digital application form will soon be made available on this page. Fill this out together with your supervisor or care provider if you have one. You must add the documents being requested to your application.

Are you unwilling or unable to apply online

The application form will soon be made available on this page in PDF format. You can send the form to the City of Leeuwarden. You can also hand it in at the Town Hall.

Assessment of your application

We will carefully assess your application. In doing so, we may request advice from, for example, a doctor, care provider or other expert.

Decision on your application

You will be informed of this in writing.

Urgency granted

We will look for a home for you. How long this will take will depend on the availability of and specific requirements set for the home.

Urgency rejected

We will inform you of this in writing. Do you disagree with the decision on your application? You can lodge a notice of objection within 6 weeks.

Your rights

• Your application will be carefully assessed.
• You will receive a clear explanation of our decision.
• If you do not agree with our decision, you can lodge an objection.

Your obligations

• You must provide correct and complete information.
• You must inform us of changes to your situation.
• You must continue to actively search for appropriate housing after we have received the application for a certificate of urgency.
• You must accept a home that is suitable for you when this is offered to you.

How to object

Do you disagree with the decision on your application? You can lodge a notice of objection within 6 weeks.

If you live in Friesland, but not in the City of Leeuwarden, you should still apply via the City of Leeuwarden because:

• the Frisian municipalities collaborate;
• there will be a single central assessment;
• as a result, the same rules apply everywhere and each application is assessed the same way.

The 18 Frisian municipalities, housing corporations and organisations that assist people are collaborating on the Fryske Urgentieverordening (Frisian Urgency Ordinance). As a result, the same rules for applying for and assessing applications for certificates of urgency apply throughout Friesland. This is how we jointly ensure:

• a fair distribution of social housing;
• equal treatment of all residents of Friesland;
• support for residents who have greater need of this;
• suitable housing solutions for people in vulnerable situations.

Contact the City of Leeuwarden.