Rents across the Netherlands rose on July 1, and that shift could change how much housing allowance you’re entitled to.
According to AD, you might now qualify for more huurtoeslag, risk having to repay some later, or finally qualify to receive it.
Huurtoeslag works as an advance. The real amount only gets settled once 2026 ends, so any mismatch between your estimated income or rent for 2026 and reality gets corrected then.
This can result either in your getting a bit more money from the government at the end of the year, or on the other side of the spectrum, paying money back to the government.
What changed with your rent
This is why reporting any changes to your rent is super important.
As of July 1, landlords in the social housing sector could raise rent by up to 4.1%, according to the Huurcommissie. Meanwhile, rent under €350 a month could expect a flat €25 increase instead.
And higher earners faced steeper rises. A combined household income above €68,858 allowed a €50 monthly bump, and if that went above €93,531, your rent could climb by €100.
Why this trips people up
Let’s say your rent, like a certain writer’s, went up by €35 on July 1. The good news is that higher rent usually means more huurtoeslag.
Great, right? But landlords, being landlords, don’t always pass your new rent figure on to the Dienst Toeslagen (Tax Authorities’ benefits office).
This means it’s up to you to update your rent in Mijn Toeslagen. And the Belastingdienst requires any change to be reported within four weeks, so it’s worth doing now if you haven’t already.
READ MORE | Toeslagen? Everything you should know about government allowances in the Netherlands in 2026
You can do this through the Toeslagen app or via Mijn Toeslagen on toeslagen.nl.
Not receiving huurtoeslag yet? Well, your rent increase could mean that you now qualify. The same site lets you run a trial calculation to check this.
Another thing worth considering: Your AOW (state pension) also rose on July 1. That can push your reported income up, which affects your toeslagen (benefits) as well.
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