The housing point system determines how much rent you are allowed to charge for a particular property. Below a legally established level, a maximum rental amount is set (socialized rentals) and above that level, the market price (private sector rentals) applies. The point system helps prevent disputes from arising with renters regarding the rental price.
How does the housing point system work?
In the Netherlands, a value system for rental housing, the point system, is used to establish the quality of the rental property. The points are largely awarded on the basis of:
- Surface area of the house and the outdoor space
- Quality of house, such as the kitchen and sanitary facilities
- The energy index of the house
- The location of the house
The sum total of points determines the maximum, legally allowed (basic) rental price. Owners are not allowed to charge a higher rental price, but they may ask less. By having the point system be carried out on your property, you will be able to make a better risk assessment and you can decide for yourself if you want to improve the property so that you can offer it in the private sector and charge a liberalized rental price. This gives you the opportunity of establishing a higher rental price thereby generating higher income from the top segment of the rental market. For housing below the liberalization limit, owners are required to apply for a housing permit from the local authorities. During this application process, the owner is required to recommend a renter. The renter must be over 18 years of age, be in possession of a Dutch passport or valid residence permit and his/ her income cannot exceed a maximum amount. By comparison, with housing above the liberalization limit, the owner is free to determine his own rental price and no housing permit is required.
What does it cost to determine a property’s number of points?
De BeheerCompagnie works out the point count for a property and also gives advice if the current state of the property does not merit enough points. This costs € 136 excl. VAT or in combination with an energy certificate, € 248 excl. VAT.