Rent allowance — how much do I get?
Monthly amount based on calc rent, collective income, household composition, age. Including social-rent appropriateness test.
Estimate your rent allowance
Fair-estimate model based on rent, household size and income. Final entitlement is set by Belastingdienst — use this to know roughly what to expect.
Monthly rent allowance
€0
estimated for 2026
Per year
€0
Net rent after allowance
€0
Status
Eligible
Where your income lands
You
€0
€25k
€32k
Wealth check OK
Indicative 2026 model. The real allowance uses Belastingdienst's tiered formula with rent-band percentages — this estimator is intended for "is it worth applying" decisions, not exact filing.
In short
Rent allowance contributes toward the rent of a social-housing unit. Conditions 2026: 18+, registered at rental address, NL health-insured, calc rent ≤ €885/mo, income below limit. Max 2026: up to ~€480/mo for lowest incomes with high calc rent. Calculation: rent allowance = (calc rent − base rent) × subsidy % − quality discount above capping thresholds. Base rent: the part you always pay yourself (~€249 single 2026), depending on income. Capping thresholds: from €648/mo (1-2 person) or €695/mo (3+) you receive less per euro. Income limit 2026: ~€33,000 single / €43,000 partners (shifts slightly each year). Wealth limit: €141,000 single / €179,000 partners. Important: NOT for free-market rent (above €885 = zero). NOT if you own a home. NOT for anti-squat or temporary rent under 2 years. Rule of thumb: at €25,000 income single + €750 calc rent = ~€320/mo rent allowance. At €35,000 income: zero.
You enter
- Calculated rent per month — Base rent + service costs (common water, common cleaning, lift, gardener). Not: own utilities, cable, tenant association.
- Collective income 2026 (estimated) — Box 1 + Box 2 + Box 3 total. ZZP: profit not revenue. Pension: AOW + supplementary total.
- Number of people at address — 1 (alone), 2 (with partner or housemate), 3+ (with kids or more housemates). Determines capping threshold.
- Tenant age — Young (18-22): higher base rent, often zero. 23-65: standard. AOW age: lower base rent, more favorable.
- Wealth on 1 January — Above €141k single / €179k partners = no rent allowance. Below = full calculation right.
- Type of rental — Social rent (corporation or private) = right. Free market (>€885) = zero. Anti-squat/temporary <2yr = zero. Student complex = sometimes yes, sometimes no.
You get back
- Rent allowance per month — What Belastingdienst pays around the 20th monthly.
- Rent allowance per year — 12 × monthly. Pro-rata on mid-year change.
- Effective own rent burden — What you actually pay yourself after allowance. Often much lower than people think.
- Distance to income limit — How much income can rise before zero allowance. Relevant on raise.
- Quality discount effect — Whether your calc rent is above capping thresholds + how much less you receive due to it.
The math behind it
Rent allowance = (calc rent − base rent) × subsidy % − quality discount
Base rent 2026 (income-dependent):
• Single: €249-440 (higher income = higher base rent)
• Partners: €249-440 (same structure)
Subsidy %: 100% up to quality-discount threshold (€457), then declining.
Capping thresholds 2026:
• 1-2 person: €648/mo. Above = 65% discount on overage
• 3+ person: €695/mo. Above = 65% discount on overage
• Above €885/mo (rent ceiling) = ZERO allowance
Income limit 2026:
• Single under AOW: ~€33,000
• Partners under AOW: ~€43,000
• AOW pensioners: higher limits
Above limit = phase-out to zero. Wealth limit €141k single / €179k partners is firm.
Base rent 2026 (income-dependent):
• Single: €249-440 (higher income = higher base rent)
• Partners: €249-440 (same structure)
Subsidy %: 100% up to quality-discount threshold (€457), then declining.
Capping thresholds 2026:
• 1-2 person: €648/mo. Above = 65% discount on overage
• 3+ person: €695/mo. Above = 65% discount on overage
• Above €885/mo (rent ceiling) = ZERO allowance
Income limit 2026:
• Single under AOW: ~€33,000
• Partners under AOW: ~€43,000
• AOW pensioners: higher limits
Above limit = phase-out to zero. Wealth limit €141k single / €179k partners is firm.
Worked example
Yara — single, 28 yrs, €27,000 income, social rent The Hague €720/mo (incl. service):
Step 1 — Calc rent: €720 falls under ceiling €885. OK.
Step 2 — Base rent: at €27,000 income single: ~€258/mo base (own share).
Step 3 — 1-2 person capping: €648. Yara's €720 is €72 above cap → 65% discount on that €72 = €46.80 less reimbursement/mo.
Step 4 — Bare calc: (€720 − €258) × 100% − €47 = €415/mo.
Result: ~€415/mo rent allowance = €4,980/yr. Yara's effective rent burden: €720 − €415 = €305/mo.
Marc & Tessa — partners, 2 kids (3 and 5), €42,000 income joint, social rent Rotterdam €820/mo:
3+ person capping: €695. Rent €820 = €125 above cap → 65% discount = €81 less.
Base rent partners at €42,000: ~€310/mo.
Calc: (€820 − €310) × 100% − €81 = ~€429/mo.
Result: ~€429/mo = €5,148/yr. Effective rent: €820 − €429 = €391/mo — for a 4-person family in Rotterdam. Plus possibly €100-300/mo child-bound budget + healthcare allowance under limit.
Step 1 — Calc rent: €720 falls under ceiling €885. OK.
Step 2 — Base rent: at €27,000 income single: ~€258/mo base (own share).
Step 3 — 1-2 person capping: €648. Yara's €720 is €72 above cap → 65% discount on that €72 = €46.80 less reimbursement/mo.
Step 4 — Bare calc: (€720 − €258) × 100% − €47 = €415/mo.
Result: ~€415/mo rent allowance = €4,980/yr. Yara's effective rent burden: €720 − €415 = €305/mo.
Marc & Tessa — partners, 2 kids (3 and 5), €42,000 income joint, social rent Rotterdam €820/mo:
3+ person capping: €695. Rent €820 = €125 above cap → 65% discount = €81 less.
Base rent partners at €42,000: ~€310/mo.
Calc: (€820 − €310) × 100% − €81 = ~€429/mo.
Result: ~€429/mo = €5,148/yr. Effective rent: €820 − €429 = €391/mo — for a 4-person family in Rotterdam. Plus possibly €100-300/mo child-bound budget + healthcare allowance under limit.
How to read the result
- €885 rent ceiling is firmAbove that monthly calc rent: zero allowance. Free-market tenants get nothing. Literally €1 above limit = full allowance gone. Check your lease: calc rent is in addendum, not always same as "total rent".
- Capping thresholds reduce reimbursementAbove €648 (1-2 person) or €695 (3+) you get only 65% reimbursement on the extra — not 100%. Rent between €648-885 yields less allowance than you'd expect.
- Service costs count in calc rentCommon-area cleaning, lift, gardener, common water: add to base rent for calc rent. Own utilities: NOT. Not all service costs are allowed in calc rent — Belastingdienst form specifies.
- Under 23 — usually no rent allowanceUnder 23: higher base rent + extra requirements. Students in student complex: often zero (exception: independent housing with own kitchen). Practically: wait until 23 for normal rent allowance.
- Income limit varies by region + compositionRoughly €33k single / €43k partners 2026. AOW pensioners more favorable. Not all-or-nothing: at €500 over limit still partial allowance. Don't bail out early — check via Mijn Toeslagen what you actually get.
Key terms
- Calculated rent
- Base rent + service costs relevant for rent allowance. Max 2026: €885/mo.
- Base rent
- Fixed portion you always pay yourself, depending on income. ~€249-440 in 2026.
- Quality discount
- Discount above capping thresholds: 65% reimbursement on rent above €648 (1-2p) or €695 (3+).
- Rent ceiling
- €885/mo calc rent in 2026. Above = free market = no rent allowance entitlement.
- Appropriateness test
- Requirement that rent fits income. Housing corporations must allocate cheapest homes to lower incomes. Not the same as rent allowance test.
- Capping threshold
- €648 (1-2p) or €695 (3+) in 2026. Above this: less reimbursement per extra euro of rent.
Frequently asked
My rent rises above ceiling mid-year — what then?
Report change immediately via Mijn Toeslagen. From the month calc rent exceeds €885: allowance ends. Until then: pro-rata right kept. On crossing limit due to inflation adjustment: landlord sometimes lowers mid-year, ask. Landlord refuses: Huurcommissie can review.
Do my student loans or other debts count?
DUO student debt: NOT for rent allowance test. Personal loans: don't count on Box 3 wealth below €3,700 threshold; above can lower wealth below limit. 2nd home mortgage: counts in Box 3 (can lower wealth). Own home mortgage: NOT in Box 3, no effect.
I live with housemates — do they count?
Depends on household type. True housemates (separate lease, own room): not allowance partner, only your income counts. Registered partner / cohabiting with joint owned home / with joint child: partner, both incomes. On doubt: Belastingdienst calls or sends questionnaire.
Do I get rent allowance in a student house?
Depends on independence. Independent housing (own front door, own kitchen, own toilet): yes, if under €885 calc rent + 23+. Dependent (shared kitchen/toilet) or corporation-designated student complex: usually no. Privately rented student room: yes if independent and 23+. Under 23 + dependent: almost always zero.
Effect on rent allowance from a raise?
Income below €33k single: almost no effect. Between €33k-€40k: rapid phase-out. At €40k+ single: rent allowance is zero. Marginal loss on raise in phase-out zone: ~20-30% of extra income disappears to lost rent allowance. Combined with healthcare phase-out (13.5%) + employment credit phase-out (6.5%) + wage tax (36.97%): effective marginal >75%. Sometimes "working less to stay within limit" is net better.
Complex situations
Edge cases that typical net-pay tools skip but actually matter for a real Dutch tax situation. Each one assumes the basic case above and tells you what changes.
Rent rises above capping or rent ceiling
Social-housing corporations raise rents annually 1 July by inflation % (max ~5%). Effect: rent can during the year exceed €648 or €695 capping → less reimbursement on overage (65% discount). Worse: can exceed €885 ceiling → full loss of rent allowance. What to do: (1) on crossing capping accept effect, little can be done; (2) on crossing €885: object with landlord or Huurcommissie against rent rise, or consider moving. (3) Report changes within 4 weeks at Mijn Toeslagen.
Social-to-free market move — allowance ends
Moving to free-market rent (above €885) = rent allowance ends from first month in new home. Pro-rata over one last social month if you move mid-month. Important decision: for many "higher rent in free market + loss of allowance" is net financially worse than they think. Example: €800 social with €400 allowance = €400 real. Free market €1,200 = €1,200 real. Difference: €800/mo extra. Always run the numbers before moving.
Resident dies or moves — you alone
Partner dies or leaves: you remain at address. Effect on rent allowance: partner falls out of allowance-partner status → your situation becomes "single". Sometimes higher allowance (partner income gone), sometimes lower (1-2p capping stricter than 3+). Report within 4 weeks via Mijn Toeslagen. On death also BRP report and Belastingdienst correction. AIO supplement may be relevant if AOW pensioner left over.
Under 23 in dependent housing
Students and young people under 23 in dependent housing (shared kitchen/toilet): almost always no rent allowance. Exception: independent housing (own cooking + bath). Often forgotten: cost for young tenant without allowance = full rent out of pocket. Students: parents often contribute. Tip: until 23 specifically seek independent (mini-)apartments so allowance right kicks in at 23.
Income threshold flip during ZZP ramp-up
ZZP'er starting: often low income first 1-2 yrs → right to rent allowance. On rapid growth to €50k+ profit: rent allowance disappears mid-year. Estimate conservatively to avoid clawback. Adjust mid-year at Mijn Toeslagen. Allowance-affair context: Social Safety Net Team 0800-2358-358 can mediate on large clawback. Wealth on savings of successful ZZP'er can also cross limit and remove rent allowance.
What this tool doesn't do
This tool calculates rent allowance based on Belastingdienst 2026 formulas for social rent. Many complex situations are worked out above. Out of scope: rent in care facility (separate regime), anti-squat/temporary rent <2 yrs (no right), rent in special housing form (supported living). For your actual application: Mijn Toeslagen via DigiD.