Verhuurderheffing

The Verhuurderheffing is a Dutch tax on public housing. The tax caused a reduction of 100.000 public houses and prevented the construction of a further 100.000. The tax cost renters 1.7 billion euros per year.

The tax was implemented under the Rutte II cabinet to bring the budget deficit it had run since the financial crisis in 2009 back within the deficit limit outlined in the Eurozone's Stability and Growth Pact. The tax fit into the general trend of neoliberalisation and aimed to promote private ownership of houses and prudent management of housing associations.