Housing allowance in the Netherlands (huurtoeslag)

The housing allowance in the Netherlands (huurtoeslag) is a government contribution towards your rental costs. It was initially designed for households with average earnings, although most recipients nowadays are at the low-income level. Eligibility for the housing allowance (also known as the rent benefit), and the amount you receive depends on your age, who you live with, your rent, and the combined incomes of the household.

Requirements for the housing allowance (huurtoeslag) 

In order to qualify for the Dutch housing allowance, you (and your fiscal partner) need to meet the following conditions:

• 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 (note that you cannot claim rent allowance for a house boat or a holiday home). 
• You are registered at the same address.
• You are at least 18 years old.
• You have a valid residence permit.
• You don't have too much capital (savings, shares and investments - see below).

Restrictions on claiming the huurtoeslag 

There are some restrictions on who can and cannot claim the huurtoeslag: namely, this concerns your income, your rent, your age, the composition of your household, and your assets.

Income restriction 

Although your income does determine your eligibility for the rent benefit, there is no fixed income limit. This is because the income limit is adjusted depending on your rent, the number of people in your household, and their age. If you live with other people, their income also counts towards your income. You can use this calculator to check if your income exceeds the limit. 

Maximum rent

Up until 2026, you were not allowed to claim huurtoeslag if your rent was too high (classed as more than €900,07 per month for someone over the age of 23). 

From 2026 onwards, this maximum has been scrapped, and you can apply for the housing allowance for higher rents as well, as long as you meet the other conditions outlined above. 

However, the housing benefit will continue to be calculated based on the maximum rent. This means that you will not receive the benefit for the portion of your rent that exceeds this limit.

In 2026, the limits are as follows:

Recipient's age	Maximum rent per month
18 - 21	€498.20
21+	€932.93

Note that as of 2026, service costs are no longer included in your rent allowance. 

Capital restriction

On top of the rent restriction, you also can't apply for the rent benefit if your assets (savings, investments and so on) exceed the maximum capital restriction, as follows: 

	Maximum capital allowance (as of January 1, 2026)
No fiscal partner	€38.479
With fiscal partner	€76.958

People with children or disabilities have slightly different requirements.

How much housing allowance will I get?

There is no fixed amount for the housing allowance, as each person's allowance is calculated individually on the basis of:

• Your age
• Your living situation 
• Your rent
• Your income and assets

Generally speaking, however, the higher your income is, the less housing allowance you will receive. If you live with a partner, a housemate or a child, their income also counts towards your total income. You can use this calculator from the Belastingdienst to check how much housing allowance you could receive. 

How to apply for rent benefit

You do not automatically receive the rent benefit; you need to apply for it via the Mijn toeslagen site.  You will need to provide information about your rent and service charges, and your income. Once you have submitted your application, you should hear back from the Belastingdienst within five weeks.