In this guide
Nearly all households will be able to borrow a bit more for a home in 2027. Housing minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan set the 2027 lending standards (leennormen) in a letter to parliament on 2 November 2026. The government gives no single figure: the extra room depends on your income and differs per household. A higher mortgage rate can limit the increase.
The method itself does not change. Every year the Nibud, the national budget institute, advises how much of your income can safely go to mortgage costs, and the government follows that method. Two things push the 2027 limit up. The CPB expects wages to rise 3.7% in 2027, and a higher income means a higher maximum mortgage. The calculation also averages the last four years, and 2022, a year of very high energy prices, now drops out of that average. According to the letter, the rise is roughly the same for all income groups as a percentage of income.
The letter also warns that mortgage rates have been rising recently, so in practice the increase may turn out smaller than the government’s charts show. The regulators AFM and DNB said they did not want the standards loosened or tightened, and the minister made no policy changes.
What does this mean for you?
If you plan to buy in 2027, your bank will calculate your maximum mortgage with the new tables from 1 January. Do not count on a big jump. The CPB figures in the same letter show why: between 2015 and 2024 the median borrowing capacity rose from about €225,000 to €300,000, while the median house price rose from €200,000 to just over €400,000. Savings matter more and more to close that gap.
For expats on a temporary contract, the letter confirms how income is assessed. If your employer states on the employer’s statement (werkgeversverklaring) that a permanent contract follows, your current income counts. On a temporary contract or flexible income, your current income can also count if a Perspectiefverklaring or Arbeidsmarktscan, an assessment of your job prospects in your field, comes out positive.
What can you do now?
- Read our Dutch mortgage guide for expats for the documents you need, including the werkgeversverklaring and intentieverklaring.
- Ask a broker to calculate your maximum with both the 2026 and 2027 tables and today’s rates. Our comparison of mortgage brokers for expats helps you choose one.
- On a temporary contract, ask your employer early whether a permanent contract or a statement of intent is possible, or ask the broker about a Perspectiefverklaring.
- Check the full costs of buying in our guide to buying a house as an expat before you start viewing.