Rent Allowance and Impact of Liberalisation Threshold in Delft

In Delft, the liberalisation threshold determines eligibility for rent allowance, crucial for students and those on minimum income in this university city. Dwellings below the threshold (€879.66 in 2024) qualify for allowance up to €400+ per month at low incomes. Above the threshold, no allowance, even for social welfare recipients. The Rent Allowance Act (art. 6) bases this on 'deductible rent': basic rent minus service charges. Maximum income 2024: €26,500 single, €35,000 cohabiting. Exceedance leads to abrupt loss, doubling living costs in Delft neighbourhoods like Poptahof or Vrijenban. Exception: temporary liberalisation due to renovation retains allowance for 2 years, relevant for TU Delft campus dwellings. Tenants must report changes within 4 weeks via Mijn toeslagen. Landlords risk fines for errors in the dwelling register. Locally: Delft has 12,000 rent allowance recipients; liberalisation affects 1,500+ households annually due to rising rents in the centre. Strategy: negotiate service charges to stay below threshold, especially with housing associations like Vestia. Tax Authority tables online monthly. Link to energy performance: A++ dwellings, such as new TU complexes, receive bonus and deferral. Legally: Council of State (2023) ruled disproportionate exclusion possible in exceptional cases. Delft Wmo desk offers advice. Check eligibility on toeslagen.nl. This article highlights Delft pitfalls when exceeding the threshold. (212 words)