Where you meet it
You meet huurtoeslag when you budget for a home, in rental guides and on the Belastingdienst site, where you apply. In English it is called "rent allowance", "rent benefit" or "housing benefit". Older guides mention a "huurtoeslaggrens": a rent above which you got nothing. Since 1 January 2026 that limit no longer exists.
What changed on 1 January 2026
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent ceiling for eligibility | Yes | No |
| Highest rent counted (21 and older) | €900.07 | €932.93 |
| Highest rent counted (younger tenants) | €477.20, under 23 | €498.20, under 21 |
| Service costs counted | Some shared-area costs | No, kale huur only |
A rent above the cap no longer rules you out. You simply get no allowance on the part above €932.93 (or €498.20 under 21).
What it means for you
- You need a self-contained home. You must be 18 or older and rent a home with its own lockable front door, kitchen and toilet, and since 1 March 2024 its own shower or bath. Most rooms are onzelfstandig and do not qualify.
- You need a written lease and a registered address. You must be registered with the municipality at the address and have Dutch nationality or lawful residence.
- Your assets and income are checked. On 1 January 2026 your assets may be at most €38,479 alone or €76,958 with a toeslagpartner (plus €38,479 per co-resident). Your income must not be too high: the official proefberekening (test calculation) shows whether yours fits.
A worked example
| Your situation | Rent counted |
|---|---|
| 25, kale huur €1,100 plus €60 servicekosten | €932.93 |
| 25, kale huur €850 | €850 |
| 20, kale huur €700 | €498.20 |
The amount you receive then depends on your income, assets and household. Our rent allowance calculator walks you through the calculation. Rooms make up 14.6% of the listings on RentHunter between July and October 2026, and a room that shares a kitchen, toilet or shower is usually not eligible.
Not to be confused with
The liberalisatiegrens (€1,228.07 in 2026) separates regulated rentals from the free sector. Since 1 July 2024 it is a different number from the huurtoeslag cap of €932.93.
Frequently asked questions
My rent is €1,100. Can I still get huurtoeslag in 2026?
Possibly, if your income, assets and the other conditions fit. It is calculated as if your rent were €932.93.
I am 22. Do the youth rules still apply?
No. From 2026 the lower youth limit applies only to tenants under 21.
Do service costs still count?
No. From 2026 only the kale huur counts.
