The Netherlands’ biggest mortgage lender on Friday warned problems on the housing market could lead to a housing shortage when the economy picks up again.

Rabobank CEO Piet Moerland told Nos television too few houses are being built to meet demand once the economy begins to grow. ‘Then you end up with a shortage,’ Moerland said.
Currently, some 30% fewer new homes come on the market than a few years ago. Every year the Netherlands has an extra 70,000 more potential home owners but only 45,000 new homes are being built, Moerland points out.
This shortage will eventually drive up house prices in the Netherlands when the current financial crisis ends, Moerland said. House prices have fallen 15% since 2008 and earlier this week the central bank warned a further 9% drop could be on the way, if agreements to limit the tax break for first-time buyers go ahead.
Estate agents have also warned about the potential damage caused by the lack of new homes, but the NVM association says this is still some way off, Nos reports.
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