Just a little longer, then there will be money for “block heating”
Tenants in student complexes will also get lower energy bills, thanks to government support. The only question is how soon the money will reach these students.
Now that energy prices have risen sharply, the government is trying to soften the blow for citizens with a price cap: a maximum price for energy up to a certain amount of consumption per energy connection. Earlier, households received a €380 discount on their bill for the months of November and December.
But in some buildings, tenants all share one connection. For example, they have “block heating” or they fall together under the same energy contract drawn up by the landlord. They then use too much energy to benefit from a price cap and also miss out on the €380 discount.
The government wants to come up with a solution for that situation, too. Minister Rob Jetten (Climate and Energy) outlined a special scheme late last year. Landlords will soon be able to apply to the tax authorities for a subsidy for their residents.
On track
Everyone is working hard to get this done, says Jos Bakker, policy officer at the umbrella organization of student housing providers (Kences). Something can always come up, but according to him, the ministry is on course to make the scheme public in mid-February, as Minister Jetten had already announced.
Tenants with their own front door will still get the €380 discount, and tenants of non-self-contained units will get part of that amount. The main question now is how high the subsidy per occupant will be as a counterpart to the price ceiling from which others benefit. That depends on energy prices and average energy consumption, among other things.
Landlords will receive the money in two rounds. That creates some uncertainty, Bakker says, because by law they can only adjust their service charges once a year, and the energy price for the second round is not yet known.
How soon?
Ideally, landlords want students to pay exactly the right amount of service charges each month, he explains, so they don’t get a large sum back at the final settlement. “Otherwise, the money doesn’t get to them until after a year,” he says. On the other hand, if they underestimate the service charges, there will be an additional charge.
The details are yet to follow, but Bakker is confident and does not expect any problems. “We are pushing very hard for our tenants to make sure they get compensation that does justice to their situation.”
