Demand for rental homes is set to rise by 75,000 over the next eight years, rather than fall by 45,000 as earlier forecast, according to a government report.

The rise in demand has been prompted by the economic crisis which has led fewer people to take the plunge and buy their own home, the report for home affairs minister Liesbeth Spies says.
The report also shows that the increase in demand for rental properties will focus on the more expensive sector which is not rent-controlled. This means people living in areas where there is little rental property or living in free sector housing must expect above-inflation increases in rent.
Rent increases
Research by tenants lobby group Woonbond last month showed housing corporations also intend to put up the price of rent-controlled property by an average 13% over the next years.
Labour’s housing spokesman Jacques Monasch told news agency ANP this shows the cabinet is wrong to force housing corporations to sell off some 75% of their homes.
‘People don’t move any more, owner-occupied properties are going down in value, tenants have to pay higher rents, builders are going bankrupt. Changes are needed urgently,’ Monasch said. ‘You can’t sell off rental properties if the demand for them is growing and the sale of property has stagnated.’
MPs are due to debate the housing market with Spies next week.