Acasa: Rent rebate

According to the rules established by the Dutch tax authorities it is possible to apply for a rent rebate for a ‘self-contained dwelling’. A self-contained dwelling is a residential room or apartment that has its own front door, which can be locked from the inside and the outside.

To qualify as a self-contained dwelling the room or apartment must have:

§	its own living-sleeping area.

§	its own kitchen (area) with a kitchen worktop, kitchen water supply and drainage and a connection point for a cooking appliance.

§	its own toilet with a flush.

§	and be registered under its own independent room or apartment number.

When calculating the rent rebate the Dutch tax authorities base the calculation on the basic rent plus certain utility and service charges which are added to the basic rent. These include any monthly charges for the following services:

§	The provision of electricity for the lift, lighting and things such as ventilation and alarm systems in communal areas.

The cleaning of the lift and other communal areas.
This applies solely to cleaning of communal areas shared with tenants who rent other rooms or apartments in the same complex. The communal areas in question cannot be part of a self-contained dwelling. For example, a charge for the cleaning of a communal lift, walkway, staircase and/or recreation room will be allowed. A charge for the cleaning of a shared kitchen, living room, bathroom or toilet in non-self-contained accommodation or rooms in a ‘co-housing’ complex will not be allowed.

§	Services provided by a warden This applies to services that the warden provides for you. Needless to say, the cost of services provided by a warden can only be noted if there is actually a warden.

§	Capital and maintenance costs for service rooms and communal recreation rooms This applies to the cost and repair of fixed facilities. It does not apply to fixtures and fittings, cleaning or any other such items.

You can add up to a maximum of € 12 of the charge you pay for each of the items listed above to the basic rent. This applies even if you pay more than this.

Whether or not you are actually eligible for a rent rebate will depend on your personal circumstances, which include things such as your income and your age. The requirements that the Dutch tax authorities impose on foreign students include the following requirements:

You must be a Dutch national or you must hold a residence permit that gives you the right to a rent rebate.

Residence permit: If you have been issued a residence permit by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), if you are eligible, you have the right to a rent rebate for as long as your residence permit is valid.

To find out if you are eligible for a rent rebate, you can do a trial calculation at www.toeslagen.nl. Whether or not you are entitled to a rent rebate will ultimately be determined by the Dutch tax authorities.

If you have any questions regarding a rent rebate, you are welcome to contact the Acasa Housing Department.

Foreign students are only eligible for housing benefit if they pay income tax.

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