Rent increase
Objecting to the annual rent increase.
Your rent can only go up by a limited percentage each year. The maximum is set annually and differs per segment, and since 2024 the free sector has a legal cap too. Received a proposal above the maximum, or one that is badly substantiated? Then you can object. And here is the good part: if the landlord wants to push through, he has to go to the Rent Tribunal, not you.
How objecting works
A rent increase must be announced to you in writing, in advance. If you disagree, you send a written objection to your landlord before the proposed start date. If the landlord still wants the increase, he must start a Rent Tribunal procedure himself within six weeks after that start date. If he does not, the increase is off. After a timely objection you may keep paying the old rent until there is clarity. If the Tribunal ultimately sides with the landlord, you pay the difference afterwards.
The hard ceiling
An increase can never push a rent controlled or mid-rent home above its points-based maximum. Knowing your points total therefore tells you whether a proposal crosses the line, which is exactly what the free check shows you.
Maximum increases in 2026
Maximum rent increase per segment
| Segment | Maximum | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| Rent controlled | 4,1 percent | from 1 July 2026 |
| Mid-rent | 6,1 percent | from 1 January 2026 |
| Free sector | 4,4 percent | from 1 January 2026 |
Source: Dutch government, announcement December 2025. An increase can never push your rent above the maximum for your points total.
The hard ceiling
Legal rent limits 2026
| Points | Segment | Maximum base rent |
|---|---|---|
| up to and including 143 points | Rent controlled | € 932,93 |
| 144 up to and including 186 points | Mid-rent | € 1.228,07 |
| from 187 points | Free sector | no maximum |
Amounts for 2026. Sources: Rijksoverheid, Rent Tribunal, CBS and Pararius. The WOZ property value counts fully up to 186 points and for one third above that.
Honest about the percentages. The permitted percentages change every year and differ per segment. The figures above apply to 2026 and come from the Dutch government. Always check which segment and which start date apply to your own contract.