Local council property tax (OZB) will rise by an average of 1.3% in 2017, the first time in five years the increase has been below the government ceiling, according to research by home owners association VEH.

Councils have been exceeding the standard for years, usually to shore up their budget or compensate for other losses, broadcaster RTL news said on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, 32 out of 109 councils who responded to the VEH’s inquiries will increase the tax by more than the agreed 2%. Home owners in Haren face the biggest increase of 12%. By contrast, in Rijswijk and Mierlo, the tax has been cut by 7%.

RTL’s calculations show home owners will pay an average of €724 in OZB, sewage and waste taxes in 2017.

VEH director Rob Mulder told RTL he wants a fairer system for local taxes. ‘Tenants should also have to pay for the municipal facilities that everyone benefits from,’ he said. ‘We will ask the next cabinet for a better, more balanced distribution of the burden.’