Housing costs and benefits

Housing costs

Renting a home in the Netherlands is often one of the largest monthly expenses. Rental prices vary significantly depending on the city, neighbourhood, property type and whether the home falls within the social or private housing sector.

• Social housing is intended for households with lower incomes. Eligibility depends on your household income, and waiting lists can be long and can take up to several years. Rent prices in this sector are regulated.
• There are no income limits or rent caps in the private sector. However, tenants in private housing are generally not eligible for rent benefit (huurtoeslag). Prices can vary widely based on size, condition, and the location of the property.

Below you can find pricing lists for different types of housing. Price ranges are indicative and based on comparisons of recent city-level cost-of-living databases and rental market benchmarks. Differences reflect location, condition and whether housing is furnished or unfurnished.

Furnished apartments cost around 10-20% more than unfurnished (Renthunter). 

Benefits

You may be eligible for rent benefits depending on your income (and if applicable, the income of your partner), rent price and age range.

Requirements for the housing allowance (huurtoeslag):

• You have a signed rental agreement with your landlord  
• You live in a self-sufficient home with a lockable front door and a bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen.  
• You are registered at the same address  
• You are at least 18 years old  
• You have a valid residence permit  
• You do not have too much capital (savings, shares and investments)

Restrictions:  

• Income: your income determines your eligibility for the rent benefit, though there is no fixed income limit.  
• Maximum rent: 932,93 euro per month (498,20 euro per month until the age of 21)
• Capital restriction: you cannot apply for the rent benefit if your assets exceed the maximum capital restriction of 38.479 euro (no fiscal partner) or 76.958 euro (with fiscal partner)  

How much housing allowance can I get?  

As there is no fixed amount for the housing allowance, each individual case is calculated differently depending on your age, living situation, rent and income and assets.  

You can use the calculator from the Belastingdienst to check how much housing allowance you could receive.