Local councils should bring back the tradition of owning an official mayoral residence – a move which would end the debate over mayors’ housing costs, says home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst.

Ter Horst made the comments on a tv show on Thursday evening when asked about the row over expenses paid to the mayors of Den Helder and Utrecht.
At the moment, mayors are required to live in the local authority area they serve but have to buy their own homes. At least 37 mayors are currently getting extra cash from their council because they have been unable to sell their original homes, the minister said.
Many councils sold off their official residences in the past to earn money.