Buying a house with a Dutch partner

If you buy together, the lender assesses both incomes and both financial situations. A residence permit, assets abroad or the 30% ruling can require extra documents.

Discuss as well how much each of you puts in, which share each of you owns, and what happens if you separate later. Those arrangements are a different thing from the mortgage you take out together.

You are both liable for the mortgage

A joint mortgage usually makes you jointly and severally liable. The lender can then claim the whole debt from either of you. An arrangement between the two of you to each pay half does not change that.

Record the ownership and what each of you puts in

The deed of transfer states which share each of you gets. You can agree equal or unequal shares. If one of you puts in more of their own money, agree what happens to that on a sale or a separation. Have that arrangement recorded alongside your division of ownership.

Have the notaris explain the legal and tax consequences before the deed is drawn up. With equal ownership shares and unequal contributions, additional arrangements may be needed.

Check what kind of relationship you are in

A cohabitation contract can contain arrangements about costs, contributions and the house. For inheritance, a will is usually needed as well.

With a marriage or a registered partnership, the matrimonial property regime comes into play. If you have lived or married in different countries, have the notaris determine which law applies.

At your first joint tax return, discuss what fiscal partnership and any foreign income mean as well. A joint home and registration at the same address can affect how the home-related tax items are divided between you.

The first-time buyer exemption is assessed per buyer

The first-time buyer exemption is assessed per buyer, on the share each of you acquires. There are four conditions for 2026: being 18 or older and younger than 35 on the day of the transfer, living there yourself for a longer period, not having used the exemption before, and a value of the home of no more than €555,000.

The conditions apply per person. The value limit, though, applies to the whole property, not only to the share you are buying.

On a home of €450,000 held in equal shares, a partner of 36 pays €4,500 in transfer tax in this example. The partner of 30 pays nothing on their half if they meet all the conditions for the exemption.

The amounts in this article apply to transfers in 2026. If your transfer date falls in 2027, check the limit that applies then with your notaris.

Make sure you both understand the documents

Ask for an explanation in English if one of you does not read enough Dutch, and discuss with the notaris office whether an interpreter is needed and what that costs. You are both signing the same arrangements, so make sure you can both read and discuss them before the appointment.

Take your income details and your financial documents to the mortgage adviser together. Add the details of a residence permit, assets abroad or the 30% ruling. Those feed into what you can borrow together, so have them assessed before you make an offer.