Where you meet it
Listings say "vrije sector", "geliberaliseerd" or "boven de liberalisatiegrens", and English sites "free sector" or "liberalisation limit". Some still call it the "social housing limit". That is out of date: before 1 July 2024 the liberalisatiegrens was equal to the huurtoeslag limit (€879.66 in early 2024), which is why older articles mix them up. Since then they are two different numbers.
The limit went from €1,157.95 in the second half of 2024 to €1,184.82 in 2025 and €1,228.07 in 2026.
What it means for you
- A high rent does not put a home in the free sector. For contracts since 1 July 2024, only a home with 187 points or more in the woningwaarderingsstelsel may start above €1,228.07. With fewer points, the points maximum applies.
- The limit at the start of your contract decides. The 2026 limit applies to contracts that start in 2026. Later increases do not change the status of your contract.
- The free sector still has an increase cap. For liberalised contracts the yearly increase is capped at 4.4% in 2026, a statutory cap that runs until 1 May 2029. Rooms are never liberalised.
Three numbers people mix up
| Number in 2026 | Per month | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum rent at 143 points | €932.93 | Top of the social segment |
| Huurtoeslag rent limit (21 and older) | €932.93 | Highest rent counted for the allowance |
| Liberalisatiegrens (186 points) | €1,228.07 | Top of middenhuur, start of the free sector |
Since 1 January 2026 you can get huurtoeslag with a rent above €932.93: the allowance is calculated as if your rent were €932.93. So a rent above that number does not mean the home is free sector, and a free-sector home does not rule out huurtoeslag.
On RentHunter, gestoffeerd apartments, houses and studios listed between July and October 2026 asked a median of €1,785, well above the liberalisatiegrens. That asking price does not make them free sector: only the points can.
Frequently asked questions
What is the liberalisatiegrens in 2026?
€1,228.07 per month kale huur, for contracts that start in 2026.
My rent is €1,300. Am I in the free sector?
Only if the home scores 187 points or more. If your contract started on or after 1 July 2024 and the home has fewer points, the legal maximum is lower and you can ask the Huurcommissie to test the rent.
Does the liberalisatiegrens apply to rooms?
No. Room rents are always regulated, whatever their level.
