From 1 January 2026, the Dutch housing allowance system will undergo significant changes, as a result of which more households may become eligible for huurtoeslag than before.
The changes particularly affect:
people with higher rent,
young people aged 21 and 22,
and the calculation of service costs.
Abolition of the excluding rent limit
From 2026, the amount of rent alone will no longer exclude someone from applying for housing allowance.
This means that huurtoeslag can also be claimed with a higher rent, provided that the other conditions are met.
Important conditions still apply:
income and assets must not exceed the prescribed limits,
the dwelling must be an independent residential unit.
For single-person households, the maximum asset limit in 2026 is €38,479.
How is the allowance calculated in 2026?
Although rent is no longer an excluding factor, the amount of housing allowance remains limited.
From the age of 21, the allowance is calculated on a maximum rent of €932.93. If the rent is higher, no allowance is granted for the amount above this limit.
For young people aged 18–20, the maximum rent used for the calculation is €498.20.
With a lower rent, the allowance is calculated based on the actual rent amount.
A portion of the rent is always paid by the tenant; the allowance does not cover the full amount.
Changes for young people aged 21 and 22
Up to 2025, 21- and 22-year-olds were still subject to the lower rent limit applicable to young people.
From 2026, this will no longer apply, meaning that many people in this age group may become entitled to a higher housing allowance.
In households consisting of multiple young people, the authorities generally take the age of the oldest resident into account. If this person is 21 years or older, the higher rent limit applies.
Service costs: important change
From 2026, only the net (basic) rent will be taken into account when calculating housing allowance.
Service costs are not included in the allowance.
If someone still received an allowance for service costs in 2025, this will be automatically adjusted by the Toeslagen Dienst.
How did this work up to 2025?
Up to 2025, upper rent limits applied, and:
if the rent exceeded the limit even slightly,
no housing allowance was granted.
There were two separate limits:
if the household included at least one resident aged 23 or older,
if all residents were under the age of 23.
This system will be abolished from 2026.
Why is it advisable to make a trial calculation?
Many people may become eligible in 2026 who were not eligible before.
Therefore, it is recommended to make a trial calculation at toeslagen.nl/proefberekening, where an initial estimate can be viewed.
Those who are eligible in 2026 but do not yet receive an allowance can apply via the Mijn Toeslagen portal.
Those who already receive housing allowance will receive a notification in December 2025 about the amount of the 2026 advance payment.
Reporting changes
Changes in personal circumstances – such as:
a change in income,
moving house,
moving in together –
may affect the amount of the allowance, so it is always advisable to report these changes in time.