National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG)

National Mortgage Guarantee: what it is

Applying for a mortgage? This is a long-term commitment to a mortgage bank. Your personal situation could change during this time. You could lose your job, go into debt, or become disabled for work. If you are unable to pay your mortgage, you may have to sell your home. If the mortgage exceeds the value of your home at the time of selling, and thus you sell your home at a loss, you will be left with a residual debt.

The National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG) exists for these types of situations. Did you take out your mortgage with the NHG? This can provide a solution. The NHG helps you to pay off the residual debt. The NHG is administered by a foundation: the Waarborgfonds Eigen Woningen (WEW; Home Ownership Guarantee Fund). To sign up, you pay a one-time fee to the WEW. Read on for terms and conditions.

What are the conditions for the NHG?

National Mortgage Guarantee limit

You cannot claim the National Mortgage Guarantee with every mortgage. The NHG limit applies. The purchase price of the house (plus any remodeling costs) may not exceed € 470.000 from January 1, 2026. Are you installing energy-saving features? Then the limit is €498.200.

In 2026 the NHG limit is higher than previous years as you can see in the table below.

The NHG and energy saving measures

Are you planning to invest in energy-saving measures? Then you can increase the loan by 6%. The maximum mortgage with the NHG will then be € 498.200 in 2026.

Energy-saving features include: 

• A high efficiency boiler
• Cavity wall insulation
• Roof insulation
• Central heating pipe Insulation
• Floor Insulation
• High efficiency glazing
• Energy efficient window frames, doors, and equivalent structural components
• Energy efficient ventilation including high efficiency fans
• Heat pump
• Heat Recovery
• A solar water heater, solar cells, or a combination thereof

What is debt cancellation?

You sold your house and a debt remains. The NHG then pays off the debt to the bank. You then owe the debt to the NHG. Under certain conditions, the debt is forgiven.

For example, it’s not possible if you are selling your house to upgrade to a bigger one. You must also have done everything possible to keep your debt as low as possible. If you can’t pay your mortgage because you borrowed money to buy, let's say, a new car, your debt will not be forgiven.

Advantages and disadvantages of the NHG

Advantages

• Low interest rates. The bank has security and in return often gives a low interest rate. So you have lower monthly expenses.
• It is responsible. You can be sure that you are taking out a mortgage that suits your income.
• The one-time premium of 0.6% is tax deductible.
• You have the security in knowing that the NHG will help you in case of serious financial problems. It’s a financial safety net.

BKR registration

If you sell your home at a loss, the bank will report the debt to the Bureau Krediet Registratie (BKR; Credit Registration Bureau).

If your debt is subsequently cancelled by the NHG, the bank will report this to the BKR and an end date will be placed on the BKR registration. The registration will remain visible for 5 years, but it doesn’t have an influence if you want to take out a new NHG mortgage. If the debt is not cancelled, you must pay it back to NHG yourself.

When you have paid off the debt in full, the end date is registered and the BKR registration stays visible for 5 years. You can apply for another mortgage with the NHG after 5 years.