Which types of homes qualify for rent benefit and which do not?

You can only receive rent benefit if you rent an independent living space, such as a flat, a studio or a terraced house.

Independent living space

An independent living space has at least the following characteristics:

• a private living room/bedroom
• a private kitchen with a sink, water supply and drainage, and a connection point for a stove
• a private toilet with water flush
• a private entrance that can be locked both from the inside and outside

If, for example, you share the toilet or kitchen with other tenants, it is not considered an independent living space.

Since 1 March 2024: also a private shower or bathroom

Since 1 March 2024, you can only receive rent benefit if your home also has its own shower or bathroom. This room must have both a water supply and drainage.

Are you planning to rent a home without a private shower or bathroom on or after 1 March 2024? In that case, you will not be eligible for rent benefit for this home.

Did you already rent a home without a private shower or bathroom before 1 March 2024? You can still receive rent benefit for this home after 1 March. If you have not yet applied for rent benefit for 2024, you can still do so until 1 September 2025 at the latest. After that date, you will no longer be eligible for rent benefit for this home.

Unsure whether you rent an independent living space?

Check your situation below to find out.

• Renting a shared or unseparated storey

  Do you rent (part of) a storey in a house, and share the front door, hallway, stairwell or lift with other residents? If so, we still consider your home an independent living space, and you can receive rent benefit. Your home must still meet the other characteristics of an independent living space.

• Living in a converted home with 1 house number

  A home that was once a single home but is now rented out as multiple independent homes is called a 'converted home'. Do you live in a converted home, and is your living space an independent unit? In that case, you can receive rent benefit for your own living space. However, sometimes we are unaware that it is a converted home. This might be the case if, for example, the other living space shares the same house number with no distinguishing addition, such as 'bis', 'II', 'B', 'bg', or 'boven'. In such cases, we may count the residents of the other living space as your co-residents, which could result in a lower benefit or no benefit at all.

  Did we incorrectly include the other residents when calculating your benefit? If so, please call the Tax Information Line and let them know it is a converted home.

• Renting a caravan

  A caravan is an independent living space and you can receive rent benefit for it. A caravan is a home that can be moved as a whole or in parts. The caravan may not have its own drive and must be located on a recognised pitch. You can check with the municipality whether your caravan is on a recognised pitch.

  Both the base rent of the caravan and the rent of the pitch count towards calculating the rent benefit.

• Renting a houseboat or floating home

  You cannot receive rent benefit for a houseboat. For a floating home, you can only receive rent benefit if it is an independent living space. This is the case if:

  • the home is anchored to the bed of the water with poles
  • the home does not move with the water
  • the entrance to the home is a fixed connection between the shore and the floating home

• Living in a holiday home or recreational home

  In most cases, you cannot get rent benefit if you live in a holiday home. But there are exceptions. If your municipality allows you to live there permanently, you may still be eligible

  You may qualify for rent benefit if one of the following applies:

  • The zoning plan says you are allowed to live in your holiday home permanently.
  • The zoning plan does not allow permanent residence, but the municipality has given you permission. You must be able to prove this.

  Do you want to know what the zoning plan is, or do you want to know if you have special permission to live permanently in your holiday home? Contact your municipality to find out.

  If you think we wrongly refused you rent benefit, call the Tax Information Line. We will be happy to help you.

• Living in student accommodation

  Students who rent a room in shared accommodation usually cannot get rent benefit. There is 1 exception: if the home was approved for rent benefit before 1 July 1997, you may still be eligible. Ask your landlord if this applies to your situation.

• Living in shared accommodation

  You can only get rent benefit if you live in independent home. This is usually not the case when you rent a room in shared accommodation. Read more at 'Ik woon op kamers - kan ik huurtoeslag krijgen?' (I rent a room in shared accommodation – can I get rent benefit?) (only available in Dutch).

• Living in supported housing or a group home for the elderly

  If you live in an independent home, you can receive rent benefit. Is the home not independent? Ask your landlord, your care institution or the parents' association whether the home is designated for rent benefit. Is that is not the case, they can ask us to designate the accommodation for rent benefit (only available in Dutch).

Can I receive rent benefit if I rent a home temporarily?

In most cases, you can receive rent benefit if you temporarily rent an independent home. This also applies if, for example:

• You are renting a home while waiting for your new home to be completed.
• You are renting a temporary home because your own home is being renovated.
• You are renting a home that is due to be demolished.
• You are renting emergency accommodation.

You cannot receive rent benefit if, for example, you are staying in a homeless shelter or a women’s refuge.

If you are in doubt or your situation is not listed here, call the Tax Information Line to find out if you qualify for rent benefit.

Who you rent from does not matter

It does not matter who your landlord is. You can rent from a housing association, an estate agent or a private landlord.