News item | 15-12-2025 | 11:16
Tenants in the social rental sector may receive a maximum rent increase of 4.1% from 1 July 2026. From January 1, 2026, this maximum will be 6.1% in the mid-range rental market and 4.4% in the private sector. The maximum rent increase is determined every year based on inflation or collective labor agreement wage developments. Different rules apply to social rental, mid-priced rental and private sector. That is why rent may rise differently for each type of home. The aim of the annual maximum is to keep housing affordable in every sector. In addition, landlords must be able to continue investing in new construction and maintenance of homes.
Social rent: 4.1%
In the social sector, the rent increase will take effect on July 1, 2026. The maximum of 5% that applied before 2025 applies until July 1. The maximum rent increase will be calculated from July 1, 2026 based on the inflation of the past 3 years. The average of these is used. An additional 0.5% is added. From December 2022 to December 2025, the average inflation rate was 3.6%. As of July 1, 2026, the maximum annual rent increase will therefore be 4.1%. This maximum applies until July 1, 2027.
The maximum increase also applies to rooms, caravans and pitches. Tenants of homes with a rent below €350 may be charged a rent increase of a maximum of €25 instead of the maximum percentage rent increase. For tenants with a higher income, a rent increase of a maximum of €50 or €100 may be requested, depending on income. This will then replace the maximum percentage rent increase.
The amended rules are laid down by law. The aim is to make rent increases in the social sector more predictable and to vary less each year. Tenants know better where they stand and corporations have more stable incomes. This means that housing remains affordable and corporations can continue to invest in new construction and improving homes.
Mid-range rent: 6.1%
In the mid-rental sector, the rent increases according to the law by a maximum of the collective labor agreement wage development plus 1%. Because wages have risen faster than inflation this year, rents in the middle segment may increase more than in the private sector. From December 2024 to December 2025, the collective labor agreement wage development was 5.1%. Landlords may add 1% to this percentage. Therefore, the maximum rent increase in 2026 is 6.1%.
Free sector: 4.4%
In the private sector, the law stipulates that rent may increase based on inflation or collective labor agreement wage development. The lower of those 2 percentages is used, and the landlord may add 1% to that. From December 2024 to December 2025, the average inflation rate was 3.4% lower than the wage development of 5.1%. With the extra 1%, the maximum rent increase is 4.4%. This maximum increase applies to all independent homes in the private sector, such as single-family homes, studios and apartments, and also to moorings of houseboats.
Lower rent increase possible
The above percentages are maximum percentages. Tenants cannot receive a higher rent increase, but they can keep a lower or the same rent. In the social rental segment, the landlord makes a rent increase proposal. This proposal can also be lower than the maximum. The rent increase that a tenant of a mid-rental or private sector home will actually pay depends on the rental contract. Sometimes a lower increase has been agreed. In that case, the lower percentage applies. Is there a higher increase in the contract? Then the rent may never increase more than the maximum permitted annual percentage. This also applies if a higher increase has previously been agreed, for example by making the home more sustainable. Furthermore, a rent increase may be implemented a maximum of once a year.
Final determination and Government Gazette
The maximum rent increase in the social rental segment will still be officially determined and published in the Government Gazette later this month.