Green gardens and roofs grant
Residential tenants in Leiden can claim a grant for a rain barrel, a planted roof that stores rainwater, or replacing paved garden surfaces.
Esta oportunidad está disponible actualmente en inglés.
This entry covers the residential tenant route, including housing-association tenants. The grant supports work on an existing Leiden home or its outbuilding to reduce flooding, drought and heat. Complete the work first; eligible measures must have been carried out from 1 January 2026.
You can make one claim a year for several measures, up to €2,000 per applicant per year. The 2026 budget is €370,000 and complete claims are handled in receipt order until the budget runs out.
- Roof suitability advice: up to €200. A green-blue roof combines plants with rainwater storage. Roofs must cover at least 4 m². Sedum roofs need at least 5 cm of growing substrate and receive €30/m²; herb roofs need at least 7 cm and receive €40/m²; biodiverse roofs need at least 9 cm and receive €45/m². Sedum roofs use sedum succulents; herb roofs mix sedum with native herbs and grasses; biodiverse roofs mix native plants, herbs, grasses and flowers. Each roof type has a €2,000 cap.
- A rain barrel connected to a downpipe, with a capacity of 125–500 litres and no connection to indoor pipework: 60% of purchase and installation costs, up to €500. This rises to 80% for a barrel made with 50% recycled material that is 100% recyclable. The quotation or invoice must explicitly identify it as a rain barrel.
- Replacing hard garden surfaces: €10/m² for permeable paving or gravel, capped at €250; €15/m² for grass, shells or woodchips, capped at €400; or €45/m² for plants, capped at €600. Remove at least 4 m² of hard surface; you may combine these replacements to reach that minimum. Water must be able to pass into the ground below permeable paving, gravel, grass, shells or woodchips. Eligible planting includes plants, trees, shrubs and seeds, excluding grass seed and bulbs.
Eligibility
- You must be a natural person renting a home or part of one in Leiden, with written landlord consent. Housing-association tenants are included. The home must not have been completed less than two years before the claim; an extension does not count as new construction.
- Any required permit must have been granted and become final. Obtain the owners’ association’s written consent where applicable, and co-owner consent for joint ownership. An application for a building with several owners must be made on their joint behalf.
- You may do the work yourself, but your own labour is excluded. Excluded costs also include hired or leased measures, permit costs, maintenance, replacing existing climate measures, measures already subsidised elsewhere, other advice, parking, tools and shipping. Roof maintenance and bitumen or EPDM layers are excluded. Garden exclusions include removing tiles or stones, soil, compost/fertiliser, gravel grids, edging, root barriers, drainage systems, artificial grass, decking, finishing and related materials or garden alterations.
- Keep the planted roof and rain barrel in good condition for at least five years, and retain the garden surface conversion for at least five years. Sample checks can verify the measures and obligations. Notify the municipality immediately in writing if the activities or grant obligations cannot be fully fulfilled; repay unused grant money immediately when the municipality requests it.
- The general subsidy rules allow the municipality to refuse funding if sufficient own money or third-party resources already cover the activities.
How to apply
- Estado
- Abierto continuamente
- Condiciones de la convocatoria
- Claims may be submitted throughout the calendar year after completion; the 2026 budget is €370,000. Complete claims are processed in receipt order.
After completing the work, apply to the Municipality of Leiden through its subsidy portal using DigiD or eHerkenning level 2+ or higher. Claims can be submitted throughout the calendar year, subject to the available budget.
Include a description of the measures, completion dates, photos, itemised invoices and payment evidence, plus the required written permissions and confirmation that permit requirements have been met. Include the old garden/roof layout with areas in m² and a sketch of the new layout and measures; for a barrel-only claim these layout documents are not required. For a garden, distinguish the old hard and unpaved areas.
Missing information must be supplied within a 14-day correction period. The municipality decides within 13 weeks of receiving the complete claim. Grants up to €5,000 are determined directly and can be checked by sampling.