The national mortgage guarantee scheme will not be limited to those starting out on the housing ladder in the foreseeable future, home affairs minister Liesbeth Spies said on Tuesday afternoon.

She was responding to comments by the national mortgage guarantee’s Karel Schiffer, who said on Monday the scheme is not being used properly and has become too big.
According to Schiffer, banks are prioritising new mortgages to homes with the guarantee. ‘This is not what was meant to happen,’ he told Monday’s Financieele Dagblad. ‘it was set up to help low income families buy a house but has exploded in popularity in recent years.’
Liability

Currently the Dutch state is liable for €136bn in mortgage guarantees.The central bank says this is much too great a risk.
Spies said she was ‘unpleasantly surprised’ by Schiffer’s remarks and has asked him to explain his comments. There are no plans to limit the guarantee, she said.
A majority of MPs agree with the minister and do not want the national mortgage guarantee changed. They think Schiffer’s remarks could have a negative effect on the house market.