The Dutch central bank will look into options to stop would-be buyers overbidding for houses, a spokesman for the regulator told RTL Nieuws on Saturday.

Board member Olaf Sleijpen was responding to new housing market figures which, RTL Nieuws said, showed that four in five homes are sold for more than the asking price and that in 30% of cases, the purchase price is at least €50,000 higher than the sellers had asked for.

A year ago, just 5% of homes were sold for at least €50,000 more than the asking price, RTL said.

‘I think everyone would agree that we cannot go on like this,’ Sleijpen said. Tackling overbidding would be ‘well worth having a look at in the current market,’ he said.

‘Transparency could be improved and it might also be worth putting a limit to how much extra can be paid when compared with the asking price.’

The central bank earlier recommended further reducing mortgage interest tax relief and bringing in some form of tax on home ownership.

Measures

The new government is already pressing ahead with one measure the bank suggested by abolishing a scheme allowing parents to give their children up to €100,000 tax free to buy a home.

The former government said last November it wanted real estate agents to keep a log book on how the bidding process for a property proceeds that everyone can check after the home has been sold.

The then home affairs minister Kasja Ollongren said at the time she would bring in draft legislation if the sector does not move fast enough.