If you rent a home in the Netherlands, there’s a good chance that you may be entitled to receive housing allowance (Huurtoeslag). This is applicable to Dutch and international tenants, including expatriate workers and students. Housing allowance makes your rent more affordable because you'll receive a significant cost reduction from the Dutch government!
If you have a relatively low income, most rents are too high in relation to what you earn. On request, the Tax Services of the Dutch government can provide you with an allowance to make your rent more affordable.
It's important to note that there are a number of requirements that you need to meet to receive the housing allowance. Whether you're entitled to housing allowance, depends on your age, income, savings, and basic rent. The Tax Service Office is very strict when it comes to distributing the housing allowance. If you receive allowance incorrectly, you'll need to pay all benefits back to the Tax Services.
You can apply for housing allowance on the MijnToeslagen website of the Dutch Tax Service Office. Read our blog for more info.