Over 75% of housing corporations will put up the rents of high-earning tenants in the rent-controlled sector when new legislation comes into force, Nos television reports on Tuesday.

The broadcaster questioned 220 housing corporations about the government’s plan to allow inflation-busting rises for richer households, in an effort to encourage them to move.

Some 2.4 million homes in the Netherlands are rent-controlled, but a large number are lived in by people who technically earn too much – over €43,000 a year.

Inflation

Later on Tuesday, senators are due to vote on housing minister Stef Blok’s plan to allow landlords to put up rents by as much as 6.5% for high earners in cheap housing. Until now, they have been limited to rent increases in line with inflation.

The corporations say they need the extra cash to pay a new tax which will cost them a combined €1.75bn.

One in 10 corporations say they will not bring in the higher rent increases because of the cost of administering it.

The extra rent increases will not affect households paying over €681 a month for their homes. These are no longer rent controlled.