Value reference date and condition reference date

Value reference date is one year earlier

The WOZ-value is the best possible estimate of the sales price of your home, if this home had been sold on the value reference date. The value reference date is always January 1 of the year before the start of the year for which the WOZ-value applies.

For example, the WOZ value announced in 2024 is based on the value reference date of January 1, 2023. This value reference date is in the past, which gives the municipality sufficient time to analyse the sales prices of all homes and use them in the WOZ assessments.

Sales before and after the value reference date determine market level

To appraise the WOZ-value on the value reference date, sales of homes sold before and after this value reference date are compared. The change in the market level during that period is taken into account.

At least all sales that take place between one year before until six months after the value reference date must be included in the WOZ-appraisal.

The condition reference date

When appraising the WOZ-value, the condition and characteristics of the property, must be taken into account. The condition reference date is almost always the same as the value reference date.

But if, for example, you have a newly completed new-build home, it is not possible to value your home as it was on the value reference date. After all, the house did not yet exist at that time or was "under construction".

The rule is therefore that if something has changed to the house between the value reference date and the start of the year for which the WOZ-value applies, such as new construction or renovation, the municipality must include this change in the WOZ value and look at the condition of the house at the beginning of the current year (also called the condition reference date). The value reference date does not change, but the condition reference date can shift by exactly one year. This is stated in Article 18 of the act (Wet WOZ).