Rents for housing in the non-rent controlled sector can rise by a maximum of 5.5% from January, the home affairs ministry said on Friday.

The increase covers houses, apartments and boat moorings and is based on the annual rate of inflation over the past year plus 1%.

Landlords can put up the rent once a year and the date is set down in rental contracts. Landlords must also give tenants one month’s notice of the increase.

This increase only applies to the period from January 1 to May 1. By that date, housing minister Hugo de Jonge hopes to have new legislation in place for determining “free sector” rent increases.

The maximum permitted increase for social housing will be published later this month.