Thousands of people paying above the maximum rental price are due a rent reduction of up to €200 a month, but only if they apply for it.

A change to the point system used to calculate the quality of rented accommodation means that from October tenants are in line for a reduction. However, housing corporations and private landlords are not obliged to tell tenants about the change.

However, some corporations have already informed their tenants. Woonstad Rotterdam is reducing rents by up to €90 a month for 2,500 tenants. Mitros in Utrecht is reducing the rent of 1,838 tenants by up to €200 and 1,415 tenants of Staedion in The Hague will pay up to €45 less.

‘They are not obliged to pass on this reduction,’ says housing specialist Hugo Priemus. ‘They will calculate if it means a huge loss of income over a year and decide accordingly.’