You spot a home you can already picture yourself living in. The living room is bright, the garden catches the sun and there is enough space for your plans. The listing also shows an energy label. This tells you how energy efficient the property is, and it matters for your budget too. The energy label affects your mortgage, so it deserves a place on your viewing checklist.
An energy-efficient home comes with extra borrowing room. Some lenders also offer a lower mortgage interest rate for a better label. And if you fall for a home that needs insulation or better windows? There is extra mortgage room for those improvements too. That lets you include both the home and your plans to make it comfortable in your budget.
This article explains how it works. You will find the additional borrowing allowance for each label, the amounts available for energy improvements and the conditions for an interest rate discount.
Updated on 21 September 2026. Figures follow the Dutch mortgage rules for 2026.
Why does the energy label matter for your mortgage?
Your housing costs include more than your mortgage. You also pay for heating and electricity. Dutch mortgage rules take this into account by assuming lower energy costs for an energy-efficient property. That leaves more room for mortgage payments and therefore a larger loan.
The extra amount depends on the energy label. For label A, for example, the allowance is up to €10,000. For label C, it is up to €5,000. You do not have to work these figures into a complicated calculation yourself. Your mortgage adviser includes the label and works out what it means for your budget.
Your income, other loans and the value of the home still count. A better label gives you extra room within the rules, rather than an unlimited borrowing budget. The tables below show the allowances for 2026.
Extra mortgage borrowing by energy label in 2026
This table shows the amounts in Article 4, paragraph 3, of the Dutch Temporary Regulation on Mortgage Credit (Tijdelijke regeling hypothecair krediet). These are the maximum amounts a lender is permitted to leave out of the mortgage affordability calculation because of the energy label.
| Property energy label | Maximum additional borrowing |
|---|---|
| E, F, G | €0 |
| C, D | €5,000 |
| A, B | €10,000 |
| A+, A++ | €20,000 |
| A+++ | €25,000 |
| A++++ | €30,000 |
| A++++ with an energy performance guarantee of at least ten years | €40,000 |
Source: Article 4, paragraph 3, of the Dutch mortgage regulation. The 2026 amounts also appear in the official amendment for 2026. Both sources are in Dutch.
Example: energy label C compared with label A
Suppose your maximum mortgage before the energy label allowance is €350,000. Applying the table brings the income-based limit to €355,000 for label C and €360,000 for label A. This example keeps income, interest rate, loan term and all other circumstances the same. The property value and lender’s acceptance conditions remain separate limits.
Extra mortgage borrowing for energy improvements in 2026
A second table applies to energy-saving improvements. Here, the existing energy label determines the extra allowance a lender is permitted to apply when assessing your income. This money is reserved exclusively for eligible energy-saving measures.
| Property energy label | Maximum additional borrowing |
|---|---|
| E, F, G | €20,000 |
| C, D | €15,000 |
| A, B | €10,000 |
| A+, A++ | €10,000 |
| A+++ | €0 |
| A++++ | €0 |
| A++++ with an energy performance guarantee of at least ten years | €0 |
Source: Article 4, paragraph 4, of the Dutch mortgage regulation, with the amounts set out in the 2026 amendment.
Eligible measures include roof, wall and floor insulation, high-performance double glazing (HR++), heat pumps and solar panels. Homeloan checks which work meets the financing conditions. The lender holds the improvement budget in a dedicated account, known as a bouwdepot. Invoices show how the money is spent.
An amount of €0 in the second table means there is no additional income-assessment allowance for improvements at that label. Financing improvements within your regular mortgage limit remains a separate option.
How do the two tables work together?
Each allowance has its own purpose. Label C comes with €5,000 of additional borrowing for the existing label and up to €15,000 for energy-saving measures. Applying both allowances gives up to €20,000 of additional room under the income assessment. Of that amount, €15,000 is reserved for improvements. Your adviser checks the combination, budget and property value.
Borrowing up to 106% of the property value for energy improvements
The standard mortgage limit is 100% of the market value. For eligible energy-saving improvements, the upper limit is 106%, subject to the relevant conditions. The portion above 100% must be used exclusively for those improvements. Section C.6.1 of the 2026 NHG conditions explains this limit in Dutch.
For a property valued at €400,000, 106% is €424,000. This is the limit based on the property value, not a mortgage offer of €424,000. Your income assessment and the cost of the eligible improvements also determine the amount you can finance.
Mortgage interest rate discounts for a better energy label
Some lenders offer a mortgage interest rate discount for a better energy label. They reward an energy-efficient property with a sustainability discount or a more favourable interest rate. Qualifying labels and conditions differ between lenders.
One example is Rabobank’s sustainability discount. On the date this article was checked, it was 0.15 percentage points for qualifying fixed-rate loans on homes with a valid, final and registered energy label A or higher. The bank applies additional conditions. The scheme covers both new and existing loans that meet those conditions.
Improving your home after buying it? Have the improved energy label registered. Homeloan checks whether you qualify for a lower rate, when it takes effect and whether an application is needed. We compare the final interest rate, including discounts, alongside the mortgage conditions.
What does the energy label mean for your home in Eindhoven?
Whether you are buying an apartment in Strijp or a family home in Woensel, include the energy label and your renovation plans in your mortgage calculation from the start. For an apartment, we also assess which improvements fall under the homeowners’ association (VvE) and which costs you pay yourself.
At Homeloan, you get one calculation bringing together the purchase, energy improvements and monthly payments. Use the maximum mortgage calculator for 2026 for an initial indication. Before you make an offer, we work through the property and your personal circumstances in detail. Read more about understanding your monthly housing costs when buying a home (in Dutch).
Frequently asked questions about energy labels and mortgages
How much extra can I borrow with energy label A?
In 2026, energy label A allows up to €10,000 in additional borrowing under the income assessment. A further allowance of up to €10,000 applies to eligible energy-saving improvements. Your adviser calculates your total mortgage using your income, financial commitments, property value and the lender’s conditions.
Can I get a mortgage for a home with energy label G?
Yes. Label G does not rule out a mortgage. There is no extra borrowing allowance for the existing label. For eligible energy-saving improvements, the additional allowance under the income assessment is up to €20,000 in 2026.
Does every bank offer a mortgage discount for a good energy label?
No. Some lenders offer a sustainability discount; others include the energy label in their interest rate structure. The qualifying labels, discount and conditions differ between lenders. Homeloan compares the interest rate you will actually pay.
Will my mortgage interest rate fall after energy improvements?
If your lender allows an adjustment during your fixed-rate period, your rate falls once you meet its conditions for the improved label. The new label must be final and registered. Homeloan checks the conditions and the date the lower rate starts.
Are the amounts in the tables a grant?
No. They are additional borrowing allowances. Any money you borrow becomes part of your mortgage and comes with interest and repayment obligations.