Around 300,000 tenants who receive support to pay their rent will see their benefit cut under reforms due to be implemented in 18 months’ time, RTL reports.

The current housing benefit method, which is calculated on the basis of how much tenants actually pay, will be replaced by a flat rate from 2024 if a proposal by housing minister Hugo de Jonge becomes law.

Around three-quarters of the 1.3 million people who are entitled to housing benefit will receive an average of €63 extra per month and in extreme cases as much as €292 under the new system. However, the remainder will see their payments reduced by an average of €28, up to a maximum of €92.

The tenants’ organisation Woonbond, local government organisation VNG and the social housing association Aedes said it was unacceptable that as many as 300,000 people could lose out financially under the plans. They warned that the number could rise to 700,000 in future if the benefit tariffs fail to keep pace with rent rises.

The government is also reducing the age at which tenants become eligible for the full rate of housing benefit from 21 to 23, boosting incomes for people in their early twenties.

People under 21 will receive €442.46 a month, over-21s are entitled to €520, while the rate for large families of more than eight people or people who need their homes adapted for a disability is €597.