Housing benefit (huurtoeslag) for a room: are you eligible?
- Shared room
- Usually no housing benefit
- Self-contained home
- Can qualify for housing benefit
- Factors that count
- Income, age, rent, co-residents
- Check officially
- Trial calculation at the Belastingdienst
Do you get housing benefit for a room?
Housing benefit (huurtoeslag) is fundamentally meant for self-contained accommodation: a home with its own lockable front door, its own kitchen and its own toilet. A classic student room with a shared kitchen and bathroom is non-self-contained, and for that there is, as a rule, no entitlement to housing benefit.
There are exceptions. Some student complexes have units officially designated as self-contained, and separate rules apply in specific situations. Because this differs per home and the rules change, the only reliable way to check is the official route of the Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Administration).
What other conditions apply?
Even if your home is self-contained, your entitlement to housing benefit depends on more factors. The main ones are your income, your age, the level of the (base) rent and who else is registered at your address.
- •Income: above a certain limit the entitlement lapses; that limit is not a fixed amount and changes.
- •Age: under 18 and between 18 and 23, different (rent) limits sometimes apply.
- •Rent: the base rent may not exceed the applicable maximum limit.
- •Co-residents: their income can count towards your application.
How do you check whether you qualify?
Do not rely on what a landlord or fellow student says; do the trial calculation on the official Belastingdienst site. There you enter your situation and immediately see an indication. If you are unsure whether your room is self-contained or shared, ask your landlord or the housing provider.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I get housing benefit for a student room?
For an ordinary shared room with shared facilities usually not. Housing benefit is meant for self-contained accommodation. Some student complexes do have units designated as self-contained; check your situation with the Belastingdienst.
What is the difference between self-contained and shared accommodation?
Self-contained accommodation has its own lockable front door, kitchen and toilet. Non-self-contained accommodation (a room) shares a kitchen and/or bathroom with others. For housing benefit the home must, as a rule, be self-contained.
Does my housemates' income count?
With self-contained accommodation, co-residents' income can count towards your application. For shared student houses this is nuanced; the Belastingdienst trial calculation gives a definitive answer for your situation.
How do I apply for housing benefit?
Through the Belastingdienst (Toeslagen). First do a trial calculation to see whether you qualify, then apply online with your DigiD. Have your base rent and service costs ready.
My rent seems high. Does that matter?
Yes. The base rent may not exceed the applicable maximum limit, otherwise the entitlement lapses. If you doubt whether your rent is correct, check it with the Huurcommissie's rent check.
Official sources
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Start free with alertsPuck van Dalen is editor-in-chief at KamerSnipe and writes about the Dutch rental market, tenants' rights and searching smartly for a room or apartment.