Skip to main content
InburgerStap
EnglishРусскийالعربيةNederlands

Housing

Huurtoeslag (rent benefit) in 2026: how to apply

If you rent in the Netherlands, use this guide to see which homes and households are eligible for huurtoeslag, what details to fill in when applying, and what you must report after moving.

Huurtoeslag
On this page

Even if your rent is high, you can still qualify for huurtoeslag

In 2026, having a high rent by itself will not prevent you from receiving huurtoeslag. You still have to satisfy the rules for your home, your residence status, your household income and your assets. For the calculation, no more than €932.93 of monthly base rent is used; if everyone in the household is under 21, the usual amount used is €498.20. Start by checking calculator exceptions. Then check the official proefberekening (trial calculation), and apply through Mijn Toeslagen (your benefits account).

Eligibility conditions

When you rent a home in the Netherlands, all the standard conditions listed below must be met at the same time. For certain situations, Dienst Toeslagen (benefits service) gives different rules.

Wide tables can be scrolled sideways.

ConditionWhat you need in 2026
HomeNormally a zelfstandige woonruimte (self-contained home) with its own living space, facilities and lockable entrance
AgeNormally 18 or older; exceptions apply if you have a child or both your parents have died
AddressYou live in the Netherlands. Everyone living in the home is registered there with the gemeente (municipality)
Nationality or residenceYou, your toeslagpartner (benefit partner) and medebewoners (co-residents) aged 18 or older have Dutch nationality or qualifying lawful residence
Contract and paymentYou have a rental agreement and pay the rent. You can prove the payments with bank statements
OwnershipYour benefit partner or co-resident is not the owner of the rented home

These income, asset and rent conditions also apply to you.

For wide tables, scrolling sideways is possible.

ConditionWhat you need in 2026
IncomeYour household income is within the limit for your rent, age and household. There is no single income ceiling
Assets on 1 January 2026Standard limits: at most €38,479 without a benefit partner; €76,958 together; €38,479 per co-resident. Check whose assets count and the exceptions under Benefit partners and co-residents
RentOnly kale huur (base rent) counts. High rent alone does not prevent eligibility

The address registered in BRP (Basisregistratie Personen, Personal Records Database) has to be correct.

Save your rental agreement and bank statements as proof. To understand the contract itself, see Dutch rental contracts explained.

Private and shared facilities in homes

For a home to be self-contained, it must have every one of these facilities:

  • A living or sleeping area that is yours alone.
  • A kitchen for your own use, including a sink, running water, drainage and a cooker connection.
  • Your own flush toilet.
  • An entrance door that is yours and can be locked from both inside and outside.
  • A shower or bath for your own use (this has been required since 1 March 2024).

You may share an entrance, hall, stairs or lift as long as your home has all the private facilities listed above. If you share a kitchen, toilet, shower or bath, you usually cannot receive huurtoeslag. However, under official rules for homes that qualify, certain student rooms designated before 1 July 1997 and certain designated supported housing may still qualify.

A houseboat is not eligible. A fixed floating home can be eligible when it satisfies all four conditions. It has to be self-contained and attached by poles to the ground under the water. It must remain stationary while the water moves. It also needs a fixed route to reach it from the shore.

A holiday home may qualify when the local plan allows permanent occupation. It may also qualify if the municipality has granted you permission to live there permanently. You have to be able to prove that permission. Ask your landlord or the municipality about your home.

If you have not yet found a home, see Finding a rental in the Netherlands.

Residence rules for households that are not Dutch

You need a residence status that gives you the right to benefits. Which rules apply to you depends on your nationality or your protection status.

Citizens of the EU (European Union), EEA (European Economic Area) and Switzerland

Citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland must have lawful residence that qualifies.

People who are citizens of other countries

If you hold a different nationality, you usually need a valid residence permit that gives you the right to benefits.

People who have temporary protection from Ukraine

If you have temporary protection from Ukraine, you may qualify even without a residence permit. You still have to meet the other huurtoeslag conditions. See benefit rules for people with temporary protection from Ukraine.

Partners and co-residents who are adults

The residence rules also apply to your partner and to co-residents who are 18 or older.

You can still receive huurtoeslag if your partner or an adult co-resident is waiting for a decision on a residence-permit application. If that person appeals a refusal, huurtoeslag is possible only when they are allowed to wait in the Netherlands. That permission has to appear in the refusal letter from IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, immigration service) or in a decision by a judge. These exceptions do not remove your own residence condition. For the conditions, check official residence rules for huurtoeslag.

Rent calculation in 2026

In 2026, a high rent by itself no longer makes you ineligible. The table gives the limits on the rent that is used in the calculation; it does not show the amount you will receive.

Wide tables can be moved sideways by scrolling.

2026 ruleWhat it means
EligibilityRent above €932.93 does not disqualify you by itself
Standard calculationAt most €932.93 of base rent per month is used
Everyone under 21Usually at most €498.20 is used. If anyone is 21 or older, the €932.93 limit applies
Included costsOnly base rent counts. Service costs, gas, water, electricity and other additional costs are excluded

If a household where everyone is under 21 needs a more expensive home because of a disability, special rules may provide more benefit. See disability rules for households under 21.

There is a separate rule for people who become the tenant of a home that belonged to their deceased parents. See rules for remaining in a parent’s home under 21.

Take an example: in 2026 you are 25 and live alone in a rental home. Your base rent is €1,050, and your service costs are €80 per month. The calculation uses €932.93, so €117.07 of base rent is above the limit. The €80 in service costs is also left out. You still pay part of the rent that falls within the calculation limit. Whether you qualify and how much you get depends on your income and the other conditions.

Income and the amount of benefit

The amount you receive depends on your annual toetsingsinkomen (income used to calculate benefits), your base rent, your age and your household. Estimate your income for the entire year, even if you apply for only part of the year. A lower income usually leads to a higher benefit, but you always pay part of the rent yourself.

Before you apply, use the official proefberekening unless a special situation applies. The calculator cannot use the special rules for bijzonder vermogen (special assets), such as certain compensation payments. Nor can it use the rules for bijzonder inkomen (special income). It also cannot take into account a household member who receives care at home or who lives away from home for more than a year. In these situations, ask Dienst Toeslagen to assess your case instead.

When you estimate your income for huurtoeslag, include income that is exempt from income tax under international rules. This may include pay from an international organisation, for example the United Nations or the European Union.

Applying through Mijn Toeslagen

To apply, you need a BSN (burgerservicenummer, citizen service number). If you want to log in yourself with DigiD (Dutch digital identity), you also need a DigiD account. Mijn Toeslagen is only available in Dutch. On its login page, you can also find information about European login and about authorising someone to act on your behalf.

Have your rental agreement, base rent, estimated annual income and household information ready. If your contract states a single all-in amount, first ask the landlord to divide it into base rent and additional costs.

Apply in this order:

  1. Make sure you satisfy the conditions for huurtoeslag.
  2. Sign in to Mijn Toeslagen.
  3. Check that the address where you are registered appears there.
  4. Under “Huurtoeslag”, select “Aanvragen” (apply).
  5. Fill in the questions using your rent, income and household information.
  6. Send the application.
  7. Keep the confirmation.

For 2026, the application deadline is 31 December 2027. If you, your benefit partner or a co-resident has an extension for filing income tax, that deadline can be extended. If you have an extension, check official application deadlines.

Usually you apply only once. As long as you stay eligible, huurtoeslag continues into the following year.

You normally get monthly advance payments based on the income you estimate. Later, Dienst Toeslagen compares these payments with your actual income and sends a final calculation. Keep your income estimate up to date so you are less likely to receive too much or too little.

If you cannot use DigiD or need assistance, BelastingTelefoon (Tax Information Line) can make an appointment for you or refer you to a benefits service point.

Changes you must report within four weeks

You must report any of these changes within four weeks. If your address changes, update your municipal registration; the municipality sends the address details to Dienst Toeslagen. For assets, check whose assets count and the exceptions before you test the limit.

  • Your estimated yearly income changes.
  • Your base rent changes and your landlord has not provided the new amount.
  • There is a change in your benefit partnership.
  • You move to another country or to a home that does not qualify.
  • The assets that count for huurtoeslag were above the limit on 1 January 2026.

Look at the rent shown in Mijn Toeslagen. Always report your rent after you move. You must also report rent changes after a renovation or in the private sector.

If you start living together with a notarised cohabitation agreement, your benefit partnership can change. Everyone who moves in or out must update their municipal registration.

If you move to a home that does not qualify or move to another country, stop huurtoeslag as soon as you can.

If the assets that count for huurtoeslag were above the limit on 1 January 2026, stop the benefit for 2026. Assets you acquire later usually affect the test on the next 1 January.

Frequent issues with moves and household information

Moving or a change in the people who live with you can affect your huurtoeslag. Check the address, rent and people listed in Mijn Toeslagen.

Moves during the year

Tell the municipality your new address. The municipality sends the address to Dienst Toeslagen. The new address normally shows up in Mijn Toeslagen within one to five working days after the municipality processes your move. After that, enter the new base rent. If you move to another rental home that qualifies, you do not need to submit a new application. If you move to an owned home, to another country or to another home that does not qualify, stop the benefit as soon as possible and within four weeks.

Your huurtoeslag begins on the first day of the month in which you satisfy every requirement. Should you satisfy them later, it begins the following month. Take this example: you move into an eligible home and register at that address on 15 October 2026. Provided all other requirements are met, your huurtoeslag begins on 1 November 2026.

Partners for benefits and co-residents

People in your household may influence both the income test and the asset test. The table lists the standard asset limits as of 1 January 2026. The exceptions listed below may alter whose assets are included.

Wide tables can be scrolled from side to side.

PersonIncomeAssets on 1 January 2026
YouYour annual toetsingsinkomen countsAt most €38,479 without a benefit partner. A minor child’s assets normally count with yours
Benefit partnerYour partner’s income counts with yoursAt most €76,958 together
Co-residentIncome usually counts. Recognised subtenants and part of a resident child’s income are exceptionsAt most €38,479 per co-resident. An adult child is a co-resident

If your spouse or registered partner is registered at a different address, that person is not included in the income and asset tests for your huurtoeslag.

When a partner or co-resident is counted for only part of the year, that person’s assets usually are not counted for the year. If you decide to be fiscale partners (income-tax partners) for the entire year, review how you split assets in your joint tax return. That split could mean you must repay huurtoeslag.

When you live apart and you both hold parental responsibility, each of you normally counts half of your minor child’s assets. If you alone hold parental responsibility, you count all of those assets. Contact Dienst Toeslagen if either situation applies to you.

Who counts is determined by the official definitions of a toeslagpartner and a medebewoner. Having only a rental contract does not make a person a recognised subtenant. If you have a subtenant, report this by telephone to Dienst Toeslagen within four weeks after their registration. If someone has been counted incorrectly, request that Dienst Toeslagen review it.

If a child lives at home and is under 23, the first €6,218 of their income is not counted in 2026. This exemption also applies for the entire year in which they turn 23. You must report their full yearly income; Dienst Toeslagen then applies the exemption. If you have a stepchild or foster child who has income, telephone Dienst Toeslagen. See the official child-income rules.

These guides can help with a related task:

Official Sources

← All guides