The Hague city council is to impose income limits on who can live in housing with a rent of between €720 and €1,000 a month.

The housing falls outside the rent controlled sector but is in such short supply the council has decided to give priority to people earning less than twice the average monthly gross wage of €2,778.

The aim, officials say, is to make sure the city remains affordable for teachers and nursing staff. ‘If someone finds a job at a school, they should be able to live there,’ housing alderman Boudewijn Revis told Radio 1 news. ‘Police officers on night shift should be able to go home to a house in the city when they have finished work.’

Revis said the measure is an emergency step and will be scrapped as soon as enough new homes have been built. The plan still has to be approved by a full meeting of the council.

Voorrang voor de politieagent, leraar en verpleegkundige: die hebben we keihard nodig in de stad!
“Den Haag gaat inkomenseisen stellen in vrije sector tegen ‘scheefwonen’ | NOS https://t.co/baIirTrvsd

— Boudewijn Revis (@BoudewijnRevis) June 13, 2019

In May Amsterdam published its plans for getting to grips with the housing shortage. These include a quota for bed and breakfasts and giving priority for social housing to youngsters, nurses and teachers.

Up to 800 housing corporation homes will be earmarked for young Amsterdammers, who find it impossible to get a foot on the housing ladder. People working in education and the care sector will also get priority as will people on low to middle incomes.