What is rent allowance in the Netherlands?
Rent allowance (huurtoeslag) is a monthly government payment that covers part of your rent. It is also called housing allowance. You qualify if your income and savings are low enough. You claim it yourself from the Belastingdienst (the Dutch Tax Administration).
You cannot get rent allowance for a houseboat or a holiday home. The property must be self-contained: its own entrance, kitchen, toilet and shower or bathroom.
» More: see all Dutch allowances.
In short
Savings limit on 1 January 2026: € 38,479 without a benefit partner. With a benefit partner it is € 76,958. A benefit partner is your spouse or registered partner at the same address.
No single income ceiling applies. Your rent, household and the ages of co-residents set your limit.
You must also have limited income and savings. You rent a self-contained home and are registered there.
From 2026 only the bare rent (kale huur) counts.
Rekenhuur cap: € 932.93 or € 498.20 if the oldest resident is under 21. Rekenhuur is the rent amount the allowance counts.
Apply through Mijn toeslagen with your DigiD. Mijn toeslagen is the Dutch benefits portal and DigiD is your government login. You can still apply for a year until 31 December of the following year.
Keep your estimated income up to date to avoid paying rent allowance back.
Who can get rent allowance?
You can get rent allowance if you are 18 or older. You must rent a self-contained home and be registered there. Your income and savings must also be low enough. Are you under 18? You only qualify for rent allowance in exceptional situations.
Do you live in the Netherlands without Dutch nationality? You can still qualify for rent allowance. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need a residence status that allows benefits ⁶. Others need a residence permit that does. Not sure? We will check it with you. A partner who lives abroad and is not registered at your address does not count. You then have no benefit partner.
The figures behind these conditions are in the table below. For your savings, the balance on 1 January of the benefit year counts. Your benefit partner is for example your spouse or registered partner at the same address.
| What | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Savings limit, single ¹ | € 38,479 | € 37,395 |
| Savings limit, with benefit partner ¹ | € 76,958 | € 74,790 |
| Rekenhuur cap, oldest resident 21+ in 2026, 23+ in 2025 ² | € 932.93 | € 900.07 |
| Rekenhuur cap, oldest resident under 21 in 2026, under 23 in 2025 ² | € 498.20 | € 477.20 |
| Resident child income exemption (under 23) ³child 23+: full income counts |
What income counts for rent allowance?
Rent allowance looks at your toetsingsinkomen ⁴, not just your gross salary. In plain terms, this is the yearly income the Belastingdienst uses to calculate your benefits. That includes your benefit partner’s income and any co-residents.
A subtenant’s income is not counted. A resident child’s income counts if they are under 23, but the first € 6,218 is not counted. That is called an exemption. From age 23, their full income counts.
There is no single maximum income. Whether your income is too high depends on your rent and household. The ages of the people you live with matter too.
» More: how the Belastingdienst works out your assessment income, and the health-care allowance that uses the same income.
How much rent qualifies in 2026?
From 2026 there is no maximum rent limit. Only the bare rent (kale huur) counts. Service costs no longer count. The allowance uses a maximum amount, the rekenhuur. It is € 932.93 per month, or € 498.20 if the oldest resident is under 21.
The age for the lower cap dropped from 23 to 21 in 2026.
Does a 20-year-old live with a 25-year-old? Then the higher cap applies. The Belastingdienst looks at the age of the oldest resident. Is your rent above the rekenhuur? You still qualify, only the part up to it counts.
How do you apply for rent allowance, and by when?
You apply online through Mijn toeslagen with your DigiD. You can do this as soon as you are registered with your municipality. Payment is monthly and in advance.
You can apply for a year until 31 December of the following year ⁵. So you can still claim rent allowance for 2025 up to and including 31 December 2026. You then receive it from the first month you met all the conditions.
“Most people worry about the income limit. But watch your savings on 1 January and your estimated income. Get those two right and rent allowance is straightforward.”
Common questions about rent allowance
What is rent allowance?
¹ Belastingdienst, Kan ik huurtoeslag krijgen? · Accessed
² Belastingdienst, Huurtoeslag verandert vanaf 2026 · Accessed
³ Belastingdienst, Maximaal inkomen huurtoeslag · Accessed
⁴ Belastingdienst, Wat is mijn toetsingsinkomen? · Accessed
⁵ Belastingdienst, Tot wanneer kan ik toeslag aanvragen? · Accessed
⁶ Belastingdienst (English), I am not Dutch, can I get rent benefit? · Accessed