Housing minister Hugo de Jonge is pressing ahead with plans to give local authorities the legal powers to force owners to sell cheaper properties to people on low incomes.

The rule would apply to property valued at up to €355,000.

“So few houses become available in this price range that we want to make sure they go to someone with a low or middle income,” De Jonge said during this week’s debate.

However, the two liberal parties in the current coalition – the VVD and D66 – are both opposed to the plan, saying it infringes on the rights of homeowners. And RTL reported on Thursday afternoon that a majority of MPs are opposed to the idea, including pro-farmers BBB and the far right.

In addition, the Council of State, the government’s highest advisory body, warned last year that the measure could have the effect of pushing prices up as owners try to beat the threshold.

De Jonge is also planning to give local authorities more power to allocate rental housing to people who have ties to the area and who work in key professions.

MPs will vote on the draft legislation next week.