Moving in together or getting married: what changes for your mortgage

Applying for a mortgage together: how it works

Whether you are married, have a cohabitation agreement or simply live together, for the mortgage application itself the bank mainly looks at income, financial obligations, the value of the home and the current lending rules. If you are both named on the mortgage, you are in principle both jointly and severally liable for the full debt. Exactly how your incomes are taken into account differs per situation and per lender.

Cohabitation agreement, registered partnership or marriage

If you marry or enter into a registered partnership, the statutory rules on community of property apply, unless you agree otherwise. Since 2018, the default has been a limited community of property. What you owned before the marriage usually remains yours, while what you build up during the marriage can fall into the community. There are exceptions and special situations, so for the precise legal consequences the notary is the right person to ask.

If you choose a cohabitation agreement instead, that automatic community does not apply. You decide at the notary what belongs to whom and how you divide the mortgage payments. Less is arranged for you by default, which is exactly what suits some couples: clear agreements of your own making rather than a standard package.

Prenuptial agreement or community of property

Under the default limited community of property, what you owned before the marriage stays yours, and what you build up together is shared. If you opt for a prenuptial agreement, you decide together with the notary what is joint and what remains private. That can be useful if one of you runs a business, for example, or wants to protect personal assets. For the mortgage itself, your monthly payments usually change little, but it does make a difference who can be held liable if things go wrong, and how the home is divided if you ever separate.

Mortgage interest deduction: becoming tax partners

Married or in a registered partnership? Then you are, in principle, tax partners (fiscal partnership). If you live together without being married or registered, you can still qualify as tax partners if you meet certain conditions. Being tax partners can affect, among other things, how you divide certain income and deductions in your tax return. The exact rules depend on your situation.

First-time buyer exemption: what if your partner has bought before?

In 2026, the first-time buyer exemption from transfer tax applies to buyers between 18 and 34, for homes valued up to €555,000, and only if you have never used the exemption before. From 1 January 2027, that limit rises to €615,000. The good news: the exemption applies per person, not per home. If your partner bought a home before and used the exemption then, they simply pay transfer tax on their share now. If you meet all the conditions yourself, you can still claim the exemption for your share. In short: one earlier purchase does not mean you both have to pay.

Want to talk through your situation?

Every relationship and every financial situation is different, and that certainly goes for the question of how best to finance a home together in Tilburg or the surrounding area. We are happy to help you weigh your options, whether you are about to move in together, have wedding plans or simply want to know what suits you both best. Get in touch on 06 52 69 88 22 or Martin@belderbrandt.nl for a no-obligation introductory meeting.