This article only applies for Long Stay. Click here to find more information about the difference between Long Stay and Short Stay housing.
Please note: the rules and conditions for rental allowance will change from 1 January 2026. This may affect your situation. The most important changes are listed below.
Can I get rental allowance?
This depends on your accommodation and your income. You cannot always apply for housing benefit for rooms. The advertisement and My SSH will tell you whether you can apply for rental allowance for your accommodation. You can calculate your eligibility for such on this page.
What's my eligible rent (in Dutch: 'rekenhuur')?
The basic rent + shared service costs together are your eligible rent, in Dutch called 'rekenhuur'. Until 2025, the following service costs are included in the eligible rent: electricity general area, caretaker and cleaning of the general area. You can find an overview of your eligible on My SSH, tab My accommodation.
What will change in the rental allowance as of 2026?
1. Service costs will no longer be included in the rental allowance
Starting 1 January 2026, certain service costs will no longer count towards your eligible rent. Already receiving rental allowance? The Dutch Tax Authorities will automatically recalculate your allowance and send you the new amount in 2026.
Example:
Joris rents an accommodation for €700, including all service costs. His basic rent is €600, and he currently includes €20 of eligible service costs. The remaining €80 in service charges do not count for the rental allowance. In calculating Joris's rental allowance, the Dutch Tax Authorities used €620. This amount is called the eligible rent. From 1 January 2026, the Dutch Tax Authorities will no longer include the eligible service costs. In the new calculation of the rental allowance, Joris will then receive rental allowance based on his net rent of €600. This means Joris will receive less rental allowance.
2. You can also receive rental allowance above the rental allowance limits
Under the old rental allowance rules, the rental allowance limits were strict. Were you older than 23 and did you have an eligible rent in 2025 that was higher than €900.07? Or were you younger than 23 and did you have an elibigle rent in 2025 higher than €477.20? In both cases, you did not qualify for rental allowance. This will change from 1 January 2026. From then on, it no longer matters whether your eligible rent is higher than the limit that applies to you. Is your rent higher than €900.07 or €477.20? Then you will still receive rental allowance, but only for the amount up to that limit. This means that from the age of 18, you can receive rental allowance regardless of how high your rent is.
Examples:
Celeste is 24 years old and has a basic rent of €920. Currently, Celeste is not eligible for rental allowance, as her rent is above the rental allowance limit. From 1 January 2026, Celeste will receive rental allowance on the amount up to €900.07.
Nessim is 19 years old and has a basic rent of €600. Nessim is currently not eligible for rental allowance, as his rent is above the rental allowance limit that applies to him (€477.20 in 2025). From 1 January, Nessim will receive rental allowance, but only on the amount up to the rental allowance limit that applies to him (€477.20 in 2025).
3. From the age of 21, you will receive full rental allowance, whereas previously this was from the age of 23.
There is a special rental allowance limit for young people. In 2025, tenants under 23 can only receive rental allowance on the rent amount up to €477.20. From 2026, this age limit will be lowered to 21. This means that everyone aged 21 and over will be entitled to full rental allowance. Are you younger than 21 and is your rent higher than €477.20? Then you can still receive rental allowance, but only on the amount up to €477.20.
Example:
Lisa is 21 years old and has a basic rent of €600. Currently, Lisa is not eligible for rental allowance, as her rent is above the rental allowance limit that applies to her (€477.20 in 2025). She is also younger than the age limit (23 years) that applies to her. From 1 January, Lisa, at the age of 21, will be entitled to rental allowance on the full rent amount of €600.
My rent is higher than the amount I have to report to the Dutch Tax Authorities. Is that correct?
Situation in 2025 or earlier:
Yes, that is correct. You do not receive rental allowance on your full rent amount, but on a part of it. You pay us a gross rent amount (net rent plus service costs). The amount you must have to report to the Dutch Tax Authorities is the eligible rent ('rekenhuur', net rent plus some service costs).
Situation from 2026 onwards:
Yes, that is correct. You do not receive rental allowance on your full rent amount, but on a part of it. You pay us a gross rent amount (net rent plus service costs). The amount you have to report to the Dutch Tax Authorities is the net rent, and therefore no longer the service costs.
I've got a subtenant. Can I continue receiving rental allowance?
No, unfortunately you are no longer entitled to rental allowance when subletting. You have to stop your rental allowance yourself via toeslagen.nl. A subtenant may be eligible for rental allowance. If you want to know more about this, we advise you to contact the Dutch Tax Authorities. Please note: in the context of subletting at SSH, the Dutch Tax Authorities uses a different term: ‘doorverhuur’ or ‘huisbewaring’.
My rent has been increased. Am I still eligible for rental allowance?
We adjust the rent every year on 1 July; this is often linked to the inflation rate. You will be notified of the rent adjustment before 1 May. Even with a higher rent, you are still entitled to rental allowance. This also applies if your rent exceeds the rental allowance limits.
Can I get rental discount?
Situation in 2025:
SSH offers a temporary rent discount for tenants under the age of 23 who rent a self-contained unit with rent that is too high. With the temporary rent discount, you can then qualify for rental allowance. Do you quality for rental discount? Then you don't need to take any action. The temporary rent reduction is applied automatically if you meet all of the following conditions:
- you are younger than 23 years of age
- you have a rental contract with a 'rekenhuur' above €477.20 (price level 2025)
- and you rent a self-contained living space with rental allowance, that is owned by the SSH. TalentSquare (Tilburg) and Talentenplein 257-407 and 408-523 (Zwolle) are an exception; These buildings are not owned by the SSH, but you can get rental discount.