Mortgage Interest Deduction

LUNTERO

Find your way home in the Netherlands with 20,000+ rental listings at your fingertips!

Check out our other helpful apps:

What's After the Movie

Browse and discover all the latest movie releases and showtimes.

SAT Sphere

Ace your Digital SAT exam with SAT Sphere!

Plot Explained

Get detailed movie plot summaries, analyses, and explanations.

Driving Theory NL

Master the Dutch driving theory test with ease!

Dutch rentals and housing platform

Dutch rentals Search Dutch rentals Netherlands rental map Compare Dutch rentals Dutch rental guides Contact Renting in NL FAQ Privacy policy Terms of service Luntero Pro Listing Organizer Search Alerts Smart Messages

Netherlands rental guides

Finding a Home guides Platforms guides Rental Templates guides Utilities & Services guides Rental Laws guides Landlord Tips guides Maintenance & Repairs guides Moving & Relocation guides Security & Safety guides Sustainable Rentals guides Rent & Budget guides Market Comparisons guides

Dutch renting handbooks and checklists

The Expat Housing Handbook: Netherlands Edition Dutch Tenant Rights Handbook Student Housing Guide to the Netherlands The Ultimate Dutch Rental Handbook Amsterdam Housing Survival Guide The Rotterdam Rental Playbook

Netherlands rental market data

Dutch rental market reports Netherlands rental metrics Request rental data

Netherlands housing resources

Netherlands rental categories Netherlands air quality Dutch air quality stations Dutch air pollutants City air quality (NL)Dutch rental platforms Search Dutch platforms Compare Dutch platforms Dutch rental glossary Search Dutch terms

Income Requirement

The minimum gross income a prospective tenant must earn to be considered for a rental property, a primary and often rigid screening tool used by landlords.

Application Process

Crown Molding

A decorative trim applied to the junction where the walls meet the ceiling, adding a classic, finished, and often elegant look to a room.

Property Features

Vaulted Ceiling

A high, arched, or angled ceiling that extends up towards the roofline, creating a dramatic sense of space, volume, and openness in a room.

Property Features

Smart Lighting

A modern lighting system that can be controlled remotely via a smartphone app or smart home hub, offering convenience and customizable ambiances.

Property Features

Built-in Speakers

A luxury feature where speakers for a sound system are recessed into the ceilings or walls, offering a clean, integrated audio experience.

Property Features

Co-operative Housing

A housing model where residents collectively own and manage their own properties, a niche sector in the Netherlands that receives some government support for its creation.

Dutch Housing System

Your Ultimate All-in-One Rental Search Tool for the Netherlands

Luntero consolidates rental apartments, rooms, studios, and houses from the leading Dutch real estate platforms (including Funda, Pararius) into a single, constantly updated database. Easily filter by price, number of bedrooms, pet policy, specific neighborhoods, and more to find your dream home in the Netherlands much faster.

The 'Hypotheekrenteaftrek': A National Obsession\n\n### The Cornerstone of Dutch Homeownership\nThe mortgage interest deduction, known colloquially and politically as the hypotheekrenteaftrek, is arguably the single most influential policy in the Dutch housing market. In place for over a century, it allows homeowners to subtract the interest portion of their mortgage payments from their gross annual income before calculating the income tax they owe. The property must be their primary residence (eigen woning). The result is a substantial reduction in their tax liability, effectively a government subsidy that makes the monthly cost of owning a home significantly lower than it would otherwise be. For decades, this deduction has been considered a sacred cow of Dutch politics, deeply embedded in the financial planning of millions of households and a key driver of the cultural preference for buying over renting.\n

Political Tinkering and Gradual Reduction\nFor many years, the interest was deductible at the individual's highest marginal tax rate (which could be over 50%). This meant the wealthiest homeowners received the largest subsidy. This has been a source of intense economic and political debate, with critics arguing that it fuels housing bubbles, encourages excessive debt, and is socially inequitable. In response, recent governments have begun a slow process of reform. The rate at which the interest can be deducted is being gradually reduced year by year, moving towards a single, lower flat rate for everyone (around 37%). Furthermore, the deduction is now limited to a maximum of 30 years and is only available for mortgages that are actively being paid down (annuity or linear mortgages). Despite these reforms, the deduction remains a hugely significant financial benefit and a massive annual expense for the government.\n

Further Reading

Income Requirement

Crown Molding

Vaulted Ceiling

Smart Lighting

Built-in Speakers

Co-operative Housing

Newest Properties in the Netherlands

Your Ultimate All-in-One Rental Search Tool for the Netherlands

Quick links