How to calculate rent increases

© ANP

You may need to calculate a rent increase for a rental home in the private sector, a commercial property, warehouse, a heritage estate or land. For this purpose, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) offers a calculation tool, which is based on the consumer price index (CPI). First, it is important to check the following two points:

1. Check the rental agreement

  • Check the rental agreement or the general terms and conditions to see whether the rent is adjusted on the basis of the CPI.

2. Find the correct calculation formula

  • The formula can be found in the general terms and conditions of the rental agreement.
    - This may be the index figure for a given month: the monthly index
    - Or the average over a given year: the annual average.

You can now start using the calculation tool by following the five steps below.

Rent index:

Unfortunately the increased rent cannot currently be calculated.
We hope to be back as soon as possible.
For urgent questions, call the CBS Infoservice: 088 570 7070.
Check your tenancy agreement (general provisions) to see which calculation method applies. Your tenancy agreement mentions the series used to calculate the rent increase. In most cases, this is ‘all households’ (alle huishoudens). In some cases, this is ‘employees low’ (werknemers laag).

Note: For calculations after 2002, the ‘employees low’ series does not apply because it has been discontinued. You can choose the ‘all households’ series in this case, even if your tenancy agreement mentions the ‘employees low’ series. For additional instructions about the calculation tool, go to How to use the Rent Increase Calculator (Dutch only).
Your tenancy agreement mentions the rent to be used as a basis: the rent paid most recently or the rent paid at the start of the contract (initial rent).
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Does your tenancy agreement provide a calculation formula? Your agreement mentions whether the annual average or a monthly CPI figure will be used to calculate the rent increase. Below are some examples.

Example of applying monthly indexation:
A common calculation of the rent increase is based on the index figures of 4 and 16 calendar months prior to the effective date of the rent increase. If the effective date of the rent increase is 1 July 2023, you look at the month of March. In this case, you choose March 2023 in step 3 because this month is 4 months prior to the effective date of the rent increase.

Example of applying annual average:
Does your tenancy agreement include the annual average? If so, this is usually the most recent annual average. This means that in 2023 you index with the 2022 annual average. In step 3, you enter the 2022 annual average.
The CPI is calculated as the percentage change relative to the same period one year previously. In step 4, you therefore select the same period (month or annual average), but one year earlier than in step 3.

Example of applying monthly indexation:
Does your tenancy agreement include the formula using 4 and 16 months before the indexation date? If the effective date of the rent increase is 1 July 2023, you look at the month of March. In this case, you choose March 2022 in step 4 because this month is 16 months prior to the effective date of the rent increase.

Example of applying annual average:
Does your tenancy agreement include the annual average? If so, this is usually the most recent annual average. This means that in 2023 you index with the 2022 annual average. In step 4, you enter the 2021 annual average.
Does your tenancy agreement mention an older base year (e.g. 2006=100)? The base year is automatically determined based on the years chosen in steps 3 and 4. The base year does not affect the amount of the rent increase.

Example of applying monthly indexation:
The rent increase takes effect on 1 July 2023. Your tenancy agreement contains the formula using 4 and 16 months. You have chosen March 2023 in step 3 and March 2022 in step 4. The base year is 2015=100. Your rent increase will then be 4.4%.

Example of applying annual average:
The rent increase takes effect on 1 July 2023. Your tenancy agreement contains the CPI annual average. You have chosen the 2022 annual average in step 3 and 2021 annual average in step 4. The base year is 2015=100. Your rent increase will then be 10%.
New calculation

Calculation of new rent

The chosen CPI is not yet available.

The new rent will be:

Fill in the applicable rent without thousand separators (e.g.: 1,287.25 is written as 1287.25).

Percentage change =

Questions

If you have any questions, you can contact our Infoservice team by sending an e-mail to info@cbs.nl or calling +31 (0) 88 570 70 70. You can reach us by telephone from Monday to Thursday from 10.00 to 12.00, and from 13.00 to 15.00. On Fridays, we are available from 10.00 to 12.00.

Disclaimer

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) cannot comment on whether a particular indexation clause has been applied correctly or whether it complies with the relevant legal provisions. CBS accepts no liability for any errors in the software used for the calculation tool and/or for any errors made when information is provided.

With effect from 2026, the CPI will have a new base year. The base year for the series will change from 2015 to 2025; i.e. from 2015=100 to 2025=100. This change will not affect inflation figures that have already been published. CBS will publish the first results with base year 2025 in early February 2026. Read more about this in the methodological description: The consumer price index from 2026.

 

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