A protected building can qualify for a higher maximum rent, but an attractive old façade is not proof of protected status. The type of designation and contract date determine which rule may apply. Distinguish extra points under an older regime from a percentage added to the maximum price.
Editorial review: Arslan Advocaten. Updated 24 October 2026.
National monuments and the contract date
For a qualifying rijksmonument, a contract concluded on or after 1 July 2024 can carry a 35% addition to the points-based maximum. Under the older-contract rule, the adjustment is instead 50 extra points for an independent dwelling or 10 for non-self-contained accommodation. Those are not interchangeable calculations. Adding points can also have classification consequences that a price-only surcharge does not.
Municipal and provincial monuments
A qualifying municipal or provincial monument can have a 15% price addition. Ask for the formal designation identifying the actual building or relevant part. A landlord’s statement that the area is historic does not establish that your dwelling has this designation. Keep the official record with the points calculation.
Protected townscape is a separate category
A 5% addition can apply to a qualifying home within a nationally protected townscape or village view, subject to the relevant conditions, including the building’s age and exclusion of certain monument designations. Merely living in a city’s historic centre does not automatically satisfy those requirements. Check the designation and the precise accommodation.
Energy points and combining additions
Qualifying monuments have special treatment for negative energy-performance points. That exception does not remove every other points rule. Monument and protected-townscape additions cannot simply be stacked for the same dwelling. A qualifying new-build addition has its own combination rules; evidence is needed for each condition.
Require proof before accepting the calculation
Ask for the register entry or designation decision, contract date, full points statement and arithmetic. A permitted percentage price addition does not by itself move a regulated home into the free sector. Check the separate older extra-points rule where applicable. If the total seems wrong, preserve the initial-rent or reduction deadline rather than waiting indefinitely for documents.
Documents to collect
- Contract date and accommodation type
- Official monument or townscape designation
- Points calculation before and after adjustments
- Energy information and claimed exception
- Landlord’s surcharge calculation
Frequently asked questions
Does every old building qualify?
No. Formal protected status and the specific conditions must be established.
Is the 35% rule the same as fifty extra points?
No. The contract date and accommodation type determine which rule applies.
Can the landlord combine all monument percentages?
No. Combination is restricted and must be checked for the actual dwelling.
Discuss the right next step
Send the complete agreement, relevant correspondence and the next deadline. We first assess the legal question, evidence and appropriate route. The first consultation is free and without obligation. Eligible individuals may qualify for subsidised legal aid; a personal contribution or other costs can remain. Where private fees apply, we agree the scope and expected costs before further work. A contact request does not itself preserve a statutory or court deadline.
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Related tenancy guides
- Dutch rental points system: how to calculate your home’s WWS points
- Initial rent assessment in the Netherlands: deadlines, evidence and effect
- Requesting a rent reduction based on points: proposal, dates and procedure
Sources and further reading
- Dutch source article (NL)
- Huurcommissie (NL)
