Applying ‘Huurtoeslag’ or rent subsidy in the Netherlands

Updated on: March 8, 2023 by Kiara Rachman

Finding student accommodation can be pretty challenging for international and Dutch students alike. Even after you stumble upon the perfect one, you probably would still have a bunch of concerns such as whether or not the rent fits your budget or if the facilities suit your needs. If given unlimited funds, more people will probably opt for an independent living space (with a private kitchen and en suite bathroom). This kind of facility surely will cost more than the average shared-facility housing rent and considering the current state of the economy, who has the buck for that? However, due to the Dutch rent subsidy program, housing with private facilities may end up costing you less than a shared facility room. It is known as ‘Huurtoeslag’ and is provided by the Dutch government. In this blog, I’ll be covering some (hopefully) everything from eligibility and how to secure this subsidy.

Example of student housing ‘Campus Plaza’

What is Huurtoeslag?

Huurtoeslag or rent subsidy is a government contribution to the rental cost for people with insufficient income. You can apply for this housing benefit as long as you meet the following conditions:

· You are 18 years or older.

· Your monthly basic rent may not exceed € 808.06 if you’re over 23 or €452.20 if you’re under 23.

· You live in an independent living space – have your own entrance door that can be locked, personal kitchen and toilet. Self-contained houses and houseboats are not eligible.

· Your savings must be a maximum of € 33,748 as of January 2023. Find the calculation through this link if you have partners or children.

If you are applying using room.nl, you can look for a designated unit in the ‘independent’ category and find the badge ‘rent allowance >18 y’. Examples of this include Bornsesteeg 1, Haarweg and Bronland (campus plaza). If you are a PhD student, you are considered a worker; thus, you need to ensure that your income calculation fits the requirement if you were to apply.

How to apply for Huurtoeslag · Try to use the trial calculation before registering, filling out the form based on your housing contracts (remember, rent fee and service fee are different things!). You will know how much you could get for the rent subsidy. The final number you gain might be slightly different. · After that, you just need to go to ‘my allowances’ on this website to start with your housing application. It’s in dutch, so better install the google translate extension to help you fill out the form. Please make sure that you put the correct information regarding the cost!

· Use your DigiD to log in. DigiD is an application for you to access government services, including the rent subsidy. To have this, you need to have a BSN number and residence permit beforehand. You will get the notification in 8 weeks.

Once you’ve applied, the housing benefits are usually transferred to your bank account on the 1st of the month. Even if you have already lived there for a while, you can still apply for this subsidy.

Do note that the application will not be checked right away and you will get the subsidy whether or not you filled in your information correctly, regardless of your eligibility/right to the subsidy. However, the amount calculated on the system will still be deposited into your account.

Yes, this sounds like a loophole you can exploit but before doing so, let me tell you a cautionary tale about one Hoevestein dweller I know who didn’t file their subsidy application correctly and received €1300 over

how much they should have received. In the end, they had to pay that €1300 back. Obviously, at that point, that money is long gone. Don’t be like this guy.

Anyway, back to business. Suppose you’re still not sure about how to apply yourself. In that case, there is a rent subsidy service by the housing desk  Wageningen that could assist you until you get the final decision from Belastingdienst (Tax office). It will cost a bit but it will surely save you a lot of trouble. I mean, at the very least you wouldn’t end up like the guy who owed €1300. Alternatively, you could also ask a Dutch friend or other international students who already applied for this subsidy for guidance.

However daunting it may seem, the process isn’t as bad as it sounds especially now that you could also just translate entire web pages on Chrome. Anyway, I hope this could help you find some extra beer cash. Good luck