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Thursday, 7 April 2016 - 12:35
Sharp increase in Dutch renting above their pay grade
The number of Dutch households with a relatively low income and relatively high rent increased significantly in the past years - from 8 percent in 2009 to 18 percent last year. In the same period the households living in the reverse situation - high income, low rent - decreased by 10 percent from 28 percent to 18 percent, according to figures Statistics Netherlands released on Thursday.
In total there were nearly 2.9 million households living in a rental home and 4.3 million households living in their own home last year. On average each household spent a third of its disposable income on housing costs. For homeowners this amount decreased in recent years. For renters it increased.
The average homeowner spent 894 euros per month on housing costs last year, 75 euros less than in 2012 and 25 euros less than in 2009. Housing costs accounted for an average of 28 percent of home owners' disposable income.
Renters on the other hand, saw an increase in housing costs. Last year the average tenant paid 654 euros per month, 50 euros more than in 2012 and 100 euros more than in 2009. Housing costs accounted for 39 percent of their disposable income last year.