What happens at foundation class D or E?

For class D or E, further research is in principle the first step now; from 1 January 2027 exploratory or extensive foundation research becomes mandatory if none has been done (new NRVT model). Since 1 October 2026 NWWI adds KCAF's indicative repair costs to the report's annex for class D and E. Lenders may ask for a construction deposit (bouwdepot) for repairs needed now, or test whether you can afford the repair costs. No lender has published a fixed deduction per class from the valued amount.

The foundation label in your valuation

Since 1 April 2026 the valuation report for your mortgage carries a foundation risk class from A to E. You usually see it only after you have signed the purchase agreement. Here is what the class means and what you can already do before you bid.

Updated: 23 October 2026

What is the foundation label?

Since 1 April 2026 every valuation report on the NRVT model carries a foundation risk class from A (low) to E (high). It is self-regulation by the valuation sector, not law; the ministry supports it.

The official name is funderingsrisicoklasse; people call it the funderingslabel. It is part of the NRVT model Taxatierapport Woonruimte (the Dutch register of property valuers), the standard for mortgage valuations. Foundation risk is a required part of the valuation there, not a separate annex. In most cases lenders have the report validated by NWWI, foundation information included.

How is the class determined?

The class comes from the KCAF foundation risk report: a model estimate from data on soil, foundation type, groundwater and archives (FunderMaps), plus what the valuer sees on site, such as cracks, damp and mould. It is not a physical inspection of the foundation.

The report also states the sources, the reliability and the reference date of the estimate. A risk class is not a repair plan and not a quote.

Note: FunderMaps uses labels A to D in its own publications. That is a different scale from the A to E classes in the valuation, and the two cannot be compared one to one.

When do you see it?

You usually see the class only after your bid is accepted and the purchase agreement is signed, because the valuation is ordered for the mortgage. As far as is known there is no public register yet; the ministry is working on earlier access (a public database is expected around 2030).

The government wants foundation information to be available earlier and to everyone, but that is not there yet. So before you bid you can only see the official class if the seller already has a valuation or a KCAF report.

What does class D or E mean?

For class D or E, further research is in principle the first step now; from 1 January 2027 exploratory or extensive foundation research becomes mandatory if none has been done (new NRVT model).
Since 1 October 2026 NWWI adds KCAF's indicative repair costs to the report's annex for class D and E.
Lenders may ask for a construction deposit (bouwdepot) for repairs needed now, or test whether you can afford the repair costs. No lender has published a fixed deduction per class from the valued amount.
NHG has announced it intends to weigh indicative repair costs at high foundation risk from 1 January 2027 (norm C.5.2). That is an intention; check with your adviser whether it has taken effect.

If you sign the purchase agreement in late 2026 and the valuation happens in January 2027, it falls under the new model. At class D or E a foundation survey is then added, with the cost and time that brings.

What do research and repair cost?

A QuickScan by a KCAF-recognised firm costs from about €295 and stays valid for up to 3 years. AFM (April 2026): for homes that need foundation repair, it costs about €92,000 on average (median about €54,000).

Those AFM figures cover homes that need repair according to FunderMaps data, not a class in the valuation: about €92,000 on average, roughly 21% of the home's value, and some cases exceed €200,000. More extensive foundation research costs more than a QuickScan; there is no fixed national price.

What to do before you bid

Ask the seller or agent for an existing KCAF report, foundation survey or recent valuation.
Consider a QuickScan before you bid, with the seller's permission.
Add a foundation-survey condition (ontbindende voorwaarde funderingsonderzoek) to your offer.
Check the municipality's foundation desk (funderingsloket) yourself and look for cracks, damp and mould at the viewing.

A foundation-survey condition is something you agree with the seller; state the deadline and the outcome that lets you withdraw clearly in your offer.

How Groundwerk helps

In the Groundwerk report, the soil and foundation section has a card called Foundation & your valuation. It estimates the chance that the valuer records an elevated foundation risk, from the building year, the RVO map of foundation attention areas, expected subsidence, measured settlement where it exists and groundwater. Every signal is listed with the direction it points. It is an estimate from public data, not the official class.

Check a home To the knowledge base

Frequently asked questions

What is the foundation label (funderingslabel)?: Since 1 April 2026 every valuation report on the NRVT model carries a foundation risk class from A (low) to E (high). It is self-regulation by the valuation sector, not law; the ministry supports it. The class comes from the KCAF foundation risk report: a model estimate from data on soil, foundation type, groundwater and archives (FunderMaps), plus what the valuer sees on site, such as cracks, damp and mould. It is not a physical inspection of the foundation.
When do I see the foundation label?: You usually see the class only after your bid is accepted and the purchase agreement is signed, because the valuation is ordered for the mortgage. As far as is known there is no public register yet; the ministry is working on earlier access (a public database is expected around 2030).
What happens at foundation class D or E?: For class D or E, further research is in principle the first step now; from 1 January 2027 exploratory or extensive foundation research becomes mandatory if none has been done (new NRVT model). Since 1 October 2026 NWWI adds KCAF's indicative repair costs to the report's annex for class D and E. Lenders may ask for a construction deposit (bouwdepot) for repairs needed now, or test whether you can afford the repair costs. No lender has published a fixed deduction per class from the valued amount.
What does foundation research or repair cost?: A QuickScan by a KCAF-recognised firm costs from about €295 and stays valid for up to 3 years. AFM (April 2026): for homes that need foundation repair, it costs about €92,000 on average (median about €54,000).