Rent Allowance and Impact of Liberalisation Threshold in Tilburg

In Tilburg, the liberalisation threshold determines rent allowance eligibility for many tenants in the city. Dwellings below the threshold, such as many social rental apartments in neighbourhoods like Het Zand or Oud-Zuid, qualify for allowance up to €400+ per month for low incomes. Above the threshold, no allowance, even for Tilburg residents on minimum income. Rent Allowance Act (art. 6) links this to the 'deductible rent': basic rent minus service charges. In 2024: max. income €26,500 single, €35,000 cohabiting. Exceedance leads to abrupt loss of allowance, doubling living expenses in Tilburg rental dwellings. Exception: temporary liberalisation during renovation, such as WonenBreburg projects, retains allowance for 2 years. Tenants must report changes within 4 weeks via Mijn toeslagen. Landlords risk fines for incorrect registration in the housing register. Statistics: nationally 1.2 million households dependent; in Tilburg, liberalisation affects 5,000+ tenants annually due to housing market pressure. Strategy: tenants in Tilburg negotiate service charges to stay below threshold, especially with housing associations like Trivire. Tax Authority publishes monthly tables. Link to energy performance: A++ dwellings in new builds around Spoorzone receive bonus points, possibly deferring liberalisation. Legal: Council of State ruled in 2023 that automatic exclusion can be disproportionate in exceptional circumstances, relevant for Tilburg starters. Check eligibility via toeslagen.nl or locally at Sociaal Team Tilburg. This article highlights the financial pitfalls of threshold exceedance specifically for Tilburg.