Housing and utilities
Huurverhoging
Rent increase
What does Huurverhoging mean?
A huurverhoging is a rent increase your landlord proposes, usually once a year. It must be in writing and reach you at least 2 months before it takes effect. The maximum depends on your sector. For 2026 the caps are 4.1% for social rent (from 1 July 2026, or €25 if the bare rent is under €350), 6.1% for regulated middle rent and 4.4% for the free sector.
Key facts
| Social rent (from 1 July 2026) | Max 4.1%, or €25 if bare rent is under €350 |
| Regulated middle rent (2026) | Max 6.1% |
| Free sector (2026) | Max 4.4% |
| Notice | At least 2 months before it takes effect |
What to do
- Check which sector your home falls in: social, middle (regulated) or free.
- Compare the proposed percentage with the cap for that sector and year.
- Check the date: the proposal must arrive at least 2 months before the new rent starts.
- If you disagree, object in writing to the landlord before the increase takes effect, and keep paying your current rent.
- In social housing, if the landlord does not accept your objection, the landlord takes it to the Huurcommissie.
Worth knowing
Paying the new rent without objecting counts as accepting it. If you think the increase is too high, object in writing before it takes effect and pay only the old rent until it is resolved.
Frequently asked questions
How much can my rent go up in 2026?
Up to 4.1% in social housing from 1 July 2026 (or €25 if the bare rent is under €350), up to 6.1% for regulated middle rent and up to 4.4% in the free sector.
How do I object to a rent increase?
Write to your landlord before the increase takes effect, explaining why, and keep paying the old rent. In social housing the landlord then decides whether to take it to the Huurcommissie.
Can my landlord raise the rent more than once a year?
For regulated housing, no: the increase is annual. In the free sector the contract sets the moment, but the yearly cap still applies.
Read next
Official sources
More Dutch terms: housing and utilities
Plain-English explanations of the words on your letters and contracts.