Short answer: in 2026, Dutch apartment owners pay their owners' association (VvE) about € 270 a month on average, according to a survey by the consumer programme Radar and the homeowners' association Vereniging Eigen Huis among 655 owners. But there is no such thing as a "normal" contribution: it depends on the building, its facilities and above all on how much the VvE saves for major maintenance. A low contribution can mean that too little is being saved, and then you pay for it later anyway.
Every apartment owner in the Netherlands is a member of the building's VvE (Vereniging van Eigenaars) and pays a monthly contribution to it, sometimes called service charges (servicekosten).
What do owners pay on average?
| Source | Average VvE contribution | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Radar and Vereniging Eigen Huis (2026) | about € 270 a month | Survey of 655 apartment owners |
| Independer (2025) | about € 161 a month | 8,118 apartments listed for sale |
The gap between those two already shows how wide the spread is. There is no legal maximum and no national standard.
Contributions are rising fast
According to Vereniging Eigen Huis, owners pay € 65 a month more on average than five years ago, about 32%. Independer measures a 35% increase since 2020. Even so, many VvEs are still behind: between 2017 and 2023 construction costs rose by more than 50%, VvE contributions by about 25%. On top of that come the costs of making buildings more sustainable.
Why it differs so much per building
The contribution pays for running costs and for saving for later:
- Running costs: building insurance, cleaning, energy for shared areas, the lift, management and administration.
- Shared heating or water: sometimes as a separate advance payment, sometimes included in the contribution.
- Savings for major maintenance: often a third to a half of the contribution.
- Your share: a larger apartment pays a larger share (breukdeel, the fraction set in the deed of division).
In the VvE dossiers we analysed, the monthly contribution per home ranged from about € 78 to € 444. A few examples:
| Building | Monthly contribution per home | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| 40 apartments | € 182 to € 444 | Almost half goes into the reserve fund |
| 63 apartments | € 136 to € 213 | Reserve fund only € 10,642 at the end of 2026, according to the maintenance plan |
| 16 homes | € 144 to € 288 | About half goes into reserves |
| Large complex with shared heating | € 350, plus € 170 advance for heating and water | Extra contribution of € 220,000 for new pipes already decided |
| Complex with sustainability plans | € 120 on average | Shortfall of € 388,144 in the reserve fund |
Low contribution, high bill
The last example shows the risk. An average contribution of € 120 a month looks attractive, but by the VvE's own plans it had a shortfall of € 388,144 for planned maintenance. Whoever buys such an apartment pays their part of that shortfall later: through a higher contribution, an extra levy or a loan.
So look not only at the amount, but at what is behind it:
- How much goes into the reserve fund? The budget shows it as the "dotatie" or "reservering onderhoud".
- Is that enough for the maintenance plan (MJOP)? Read How big should a VvE's reserve fund be?
- Is an increase coming? Read the minutes for decisions about sustainability, loans or extra contributions.
Checklist for buyers
- Ask for the budget and check which part of the contribution goes into the reserve fund.
- Compare the contribution per square metre: VvE.nl gives € 2 to € 2.50 per m² per month as a guideline.
- Check whether heating and water are included in the contribution or paid separately.
- Read the minutes of the last two to three years for planned increases.
- Ask your mortgage adviser to include the contribution, because it counts towards your housing costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal monthly VvE contribution?
About € 270 a month on average in 2026, according to Radar and Vereniging Eigen Huis. But buildings differ a lot: a building with a lift and shared heating costs more than a small complex without facilities.
Is a low VvE contribution a good thing?
Not necessarily. A low contribution can mean that the VvE is saving too little for major maintenance. That is often followed later by an extra levy, a loan or a sharp increase.
Can the VvE simply raise the contribution?
The general meeting of owners decides on the budget, and so on the contribution. There is no legal maximum on the amount or the increase.
Sources (in Dutch)
- VvE.nl: VvE-bijdrage 2026, wat is gemiddeld en waar betaal je voor? (updated 7 October 2026)
- Nederland VvE: VvE-bijdrage en servicekosten
- VvE.nl: Reservefonds VvE uitgelegd (updated 9 September 2026)