DUWO

Rent allowance
Only residents living in independent residences (with their own front door and private facilities such as kitchen, shower and toilet) are eligible for rent allowance. It is not possible for the majority of tenants who live in rooms with shared facilities to request rent allowance. However, there are a few complexes where this is possible – contact DUWO for more information.
For eligible candidates, rent allowance can form an important contribution to housing costs. If the rent you have to pay is deemed to be out of proportion with your monthly income, you may be eligible for rent allowance from the Dutch Tax Office. You can enter your details at toeslagen.nl to determine whether you are eligible for rent allowance. You can also find information about rent allowance on this site, or feel free to contact DUWO directly. We are one of the many Rent allowance Information Points (RIP) that were set up to provide assistance to anyone with questions about rent allowance.
Unfortunately you cannot apply for rent allowance at the Amstelveen office for the time being due to an issue at the Tax Office. However, you can still apply for rent allowance directly with the Tax Office. 

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Terms and conditions
If you sign a DUWO rental agreement, all important information regarding rent allowance will be discussed. A number of factors will affect your eligibility for rent allowance, including the rental amount, your current taxable income, your household make-up and any assets. One condition is that you must be registered in the Municipal Database at the address for which you would like to apply for rent allowance.

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First application
In order to apply for rent allowance at DUWO, you need a DigiD. If you do not already have a DigiD, you can apply for one here: www.digid.nl. Within five days you will receive an activation code in the post. You can also request an application form by calling the Tax Office directly on 0800-0543.

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Changes
You should inform the Tax Office as soon as your living situation changes. Such changes may include changes to household make-up or income or moving to a new address.

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Starting date
The allowance year runs from 1 January to 1 January and you can apply for rent allowance at any time. When you sign a rental agreement and become eligible for rent allowance, the start date will be the first day of the following month. For example, if a rental agreement is signed on 17 March, the start date of the rent allowance is 1 April.

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Rent reduction
 If you are eligible for rent allowance, you can receive it on a monthly basis in two ways: either by direct transfer to your nominated back or giro account or as a rent reduction (clustered payment) via DUWO. Most tenants prefer the rent reduction option, as it means that you pay a lower amount of rent directly. If you choose this option, you need to state that the rent allowance should be paid directly to the letter (i.e. DUWO). You will also need to enter DUWO’s bank account number and Chamber of Commerce number (27220173).

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