More homeowners expect trouble paying the fixed housing costs in the coming period. In a study by National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG), more than a third of the people who participated in the survey says that their income is just enough or even insufficient to be able to pay all costs and fixed costs.

More than twenty percent of the respondents are concerned about his financial situation. According to NHG, this group of people is awake, feels powerless and experiences stress. “We also see that one in three people says: I can really just come around. Then it is about several costs including the housing costs, but also other expenses,” says Carla Muters, chairman of the board of directors at NHG.

In the survey, one in five homeowners says that the holiday pay is used for necessary expenses such as home maintenance. “We see that there are quite a lot of worries, while the number of payment arrears at mortgages is historically low. It takes a long time before you see an effect, people continue to pay their housing costs for a long time.”

It is the third time that NHG is conducting the investigation on housing costs. Since the last time, at the end of October, the number of people who are expected to have difficulty paying the housing costs has increased slightly.

According to the organization, people who have taken out a mortgage between 2015 and 2021 should pay attention in the coming period. They took out their loan in a period of unprecedented low interest rates, which at some point was even below one percent. But since 2022, interest rates have risen again, nowadays it is on average at around 3.5 percent.

Some of the people with that historically low interest rate have fixed the percentage for a period of 10 years. Most respondents are not worried about increasing interest rates. For some people, the mortgage costs will increase.

“Depending on what period, it will end now or in the coming years and then you will be confronted with a higher mortgage interest rate. It is hard to say how much more you will pay,” says Muters of VNG. “It depends on your personal situation and what kind of mortgage you have. Then you have to compare the interest: what is it now and what did you pay before. That is an individual sum, but can cost tens of euros or much more net per month.”

According to Carla Muters, people have to look at their own situation at home. “We point out people to talk, to gain insight. Go see how things are with you. Not everyone is aware of this, look at your finances and agreements about the mortgage.”

Last week, the Central Planning Bureau published a study showing that the incomes of most Dutch people rose faster than their burdens. According to Muters of NHG, this does not apply to every household. “That is on average, we see individual differences and people indicate that they really have trouble making ends meet. Those people indicate that they are already doing many things such as saving on fun things and groceries or working more.”

NHG is concerned about the increased number of people with payment problems. Although more homeowners with financial problems seek professional help, a large part does not yet do so. The organization can help with that, says Muters. “As a NHG we can help through advisors and lenders. Think of a budget or job coach. Please report if you need help.”