Starting January 1, 2026, major changes to Dutch rent allowance (huurtoeslag) rules will make more people eligible for support, especially tenants paying relatively high rents on low incomes. Here's what's changing and what it means for you.
No More Maximum Rent Limit for Eligibility
The biggest change removes a barrier that currently prevents many people from getting help. Today, you can only receive rent allowance if your rent falls below a strict maximum: €900.07 for most adults and €477.20 for young tenants in 2025. From 2026, that maximum rent limit as an eligibility condition disappears completely.
This means if you meet the other requirements (e.g. your income and savings are low enough and you live in a self-contained home) you may qualify for rent allowance even if your rent is higher than the old cap. According to the Ministry for Housing, approximately 170,000 additional households will become eligible because of this change, receiving an average benefit of about €175 per month.
However, there's an important distinction: while the eligibility cap is gone, the calculation still uses a maximum "rent ceiling." In 2026, the Tax Administration will count rent only up to €932.93 for adults and €498.20 for young people when calculating your allowance amount. Rent above those ceilings doesn't receive additional support—you just won't be automatically excluded anymore.
Young Tenants Get Full Support Earlier
The rules for young people are being updated to better align with labor market realities and the minimum wage system. Currently, reduced "youth" rates apply to everyone under 23, but that's changing:
Under 21: Youth rates still apply, meaning rent allowance is calculated using the lower youth rent ceiling (around €498.20 in 2026)
Ages 21-22: These tenants now qualify for full adult rent allowance immediately, instead of waiting until age 23. This means potentially higher support for people in this age group.
23 and older: No change, full adult rates continue to apply
The system still considers the oldest person in your household when determining which rules apply. For example, if a 20-year-old lives with a 25-year-old, the higher adult rent ceiling applies to the calculation.
Service Charges No Longer Included
Another significant change affects how your rent is calculated for allowance purposes. From 2026, service costs will no longer count toward the rent allowance calculation. The Tax Administration will use only your basic rent (kale huur) and ignore previously eligible common service costs like cleaning of communal areas or shared energy for stairwells.
This change has mixed effects:
For about 20% of current recipients: Rent allowance will decrease by an average of around €9 per month because the service costs portion that used to be reimbursed will no longer count
For everyone: Your required own contribution (the part of rent you must pay yourself based on income) decreases by about €7.58 per month, partially offsetting the reduction
If you already receive rent allowance and have previously reported service costs, you don't need to do anything. The Tax Administration will automatically update your 2026 calculation and send you a new overview showing the changes.
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Smoother Phase-Out When Income Increases
The government is also introducing a new, more gradual calculation method for rent allowance. The goal is to make it clearer what happens to your benefit when your income increases, for example, when you start working more hours or get a raise.
Under current rules, rent allowance can sometimes drop in sudden steps when your income crosses certain thresholds. This "cliff effect" can make earning slightly more money financially unattractive because you lose benefits abruptly. With the new method, allowance phases out more gradually as income rises, giving you clearer insight into how extra earnings affect your support.
This should reduce situations where working a few more hours leaves you worse off overall due to benefit loss.
Who Benefits and Who Might Lose Out?
Overall, the package is designed to expand access to rent allowance:
Winners:
Low-income households with relatively high rents who currently receive nothing because of the maximum rent limit
Young people aged 21-22 who can now qualify for full adult allowance earlier
Around 170,000 additional households becoming newly eligible
Potential losers:
Some existing recipients will receive slightly less because service costs no longer count, though the lower required own contribution partly offsets this
The net effect for most current recipients should be relatively small
What You Should Do Now
If you don't currently receive rent allowance but pay relatively high rent on a low income, it's worth checking again for 2026. You might now qualify under the new rules even if you were previously excluded.
Make a trial calculation (proefberekening) through Mijn Toeslagen on the Tax Administration website to see:
Whether you qualify under the new 2026 rules
How much rent allowance you could receive
If you already receive rent allowance, you don't need to reapply because of these changes. The Tax Administration will automatically adjust your calculation for 2026. As always, keep your income, rent, and household details up to date to ensure your allowance is calculated correctly.
Check the calculation you receive in early 2026 to understand how the changes affect your specific situation, and contact the Tax Administration if you have questions about your new amount.
