After a rent freeze for rooms last year, the government has for this year decided to allow rent increases once again for both social and liberalized contracts. A rent increase is probably not something you’re looking forward to as a tenant, but chances are you'll find one in your mailbox this month. What are the things you should pay attention to before you agree?

Landlords are allowed to propose an annual rent increase, based on a percentage determined by the government each year. These percentages enter into effect on July 1st and most lessors want to enjoy the increases as soon as they can. By sending a proposal in April, two months in advance, the increase can enter directly into effect on the 1st of July. But be aware, this letter from the landlord is a proposal and its effectuation in first instance requires your agreement or consent. 

For 2022, the maximum rent increase for rooms is set at 2.3%. For other non-liberalized contracts [houses with a base rent below € 763 74 [2022]] this percentage is used as well, although for these houses the rent may be increased by € 25 if the current rent is below € 300. For tenants in such houses with an annual income surpassing € 47.948, the rent may be increased by € 50 or € 100, depending on the total income. 

For independent dwellings in the non-liberalized sector, the maximum rent increase is set at 3.3%. Keep in mind that if the contract states a lower percentage, the lower percentage holds. If the contract states a higher percentage on the other hand, the increase may not be higher than the 3.3% set by the Ministry.

In principle the landlord is allowed to make a proposal for a rent increase. Be that as it may, it does not automatically mean you have to agree or that the proposal you receive is always valid. Proposals for rent increase need to fulfill certain requirements to be legally valid and many proposals that are objected to are eventually annulled. Proposals for example need to contain both the old and the new price, the perceptual increase, and the date of effectuation. They also need to explain the possibility object and how to go about it. Finally the consequences of not objecting must be stated. If one of these are missing, chances are that you don’t need to agree with the proposal as it is. The landlord will then need to make you a new proposal.  

The most important thing about the rent increase is that even after the increase, the rent may never exceed the legal maximum. If you have not had a rent taxation conducted yet, the rent increase is an excellent time to to so and check what your rights in this regard actually are and make sure you are not overpaying on your rent as it is. 

Are you curious to see whether the rent increase you received is actually valid or whether you are overpaying on your rent as not is? Apply h er e for a free taxation and upload the proposal for rent increase. Click h er e if you want to object to your rent increase right away.