Minister Blok of Housing and the Civil Service has, in a circular The policy regarding the 2016 rent increase has been announced.
Maximum rent increase for 2016
The maximum rent increase depends on the inflation rate for 2015. This figure has been set by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) at 0.6%. The maximum rent increase is equal to the inflation rate plus 1.5% points and therefore amounts to 2,1%.
For households with an income above €34,678 (but not exceeding €44,360), a higher rent increase is permitted: 2,6%.
Households with an income above €44,360 could face a rent increase of as much as: 4,6%.
Income
The 2014 income is the determining factor for the rent increase with effect from 1 July 2016. This refers to the household income, which is the sum of the combined incomes of all occupants of the rented property. The landlord can, via the web portal www.inkomensafhankelijkehuurverhoging.nl request income statements from the tax authorities.
People with disabilities and those with chronic illnesses
This category of tenants, who are often unable to move house or for whom moving house is not desirable due to fixtures and fittings installed in the rented property, may lodge an objection to the 2016 rent increase if it exceeds 2.1%.
Deregulated rent
The aforementioned maximum rent increases do not apply to deregulated tenancy agreements. This concerns the letting of self-contained dwellings for which the (basic) monthly rent at the start of the tenancy exceeded €710.68.
For housing associations, the maximum increase in the rent standard (rent increase) is: 1%.