Historical Increases of the Rent Liberalisation Threshold in Rotterdam

The rent liberalisation threshold has been increased multiple times since 1990 to reduce the social housing sector in Rotterdam, particularly in busy districts such as Charlois, Feijenoord, and Rotterdam-Zuid. Starting at €600 (1990), it rose to €712.50 (2013), €752.33 (2021), and €808.06 (2024). These adjustments, introduced by cabinets such as Rutte-II and III, respond to the extreme housing shortage in the port city, where housing associations like Woonbron and Vestia face pressure due to long waiting lists and maintenance backlogs. The aim is to create more mid-market rental properties in the Randstad’s primary city, Rotterdam, and to relieve housing associations of the burden for low-income households. Political debate in the Rotterdam City Council rages over gentrification in Delfshaven and Kralingen; critics fear the displacement of middle-income earners due to rising rents along the Maas. Legally established in the Housing Act and annually indexed with inflation plus a corrective factor, the threshold remained stable at €711 between 2015 and 2020. However, the Affordable Rent Act (2021) introduced a significant increase, resulting in the liberalisation of approximately 12% of rental properties in Rotterdam—higher than the national average due to urban pressure. Tenants with long-term contracts from pre-liberalisation periods retain the old rules through transitional law, which is crucial for Rotterdam families. Landlords must respect the threshold for new contracts, with strict oversight by the local Rent Tribunal. Future developments may include further increases in 2025 due to nitrogen regulations around the port and climate adaptation for dyke reinforcement. Sources such as the Staatscourant, Rent Tribunal reports, and Municipality of Rotterdam data provide detailed tables per district, aiding strategic rent determination in the Maasstad.