Climate change will affect social housing more than the average home, increasing social inequality, an analysis by sustainable construction foundation Dutch Green Building Council (DGBW) has shown.

In the most extensive analysis to date, the council looked at 830,000 homes owned by 53 housing corporations, almost a third of the social housing stock and 10% of all housing.

People who live in housing corporation homes will suffer more from excessive heat or rising groundwater levels, the report said. Unlike homeowners, they are also restricted by corporation rules from taking measures that would protect them from these effects.

Many would, in any case, lack the money to adapt their homes. “Climate change not only creates bigger physical risks but also social inequality,” the DGBW said,

The foundation warned that corporations are having to field several climate-related problems at once.

“It’s a huge undertaking for housing corporations to tackle this,” DGBW innovation manager Jan Kadijk told broadcaster NOS. “The first step is to look at a house and identify its weak spots. And then think of ways to solve them. That may be more greenery or adapting the home itself,” he said.

Liesbeth Spies, chair of corporation umbrella organisation Aedes, said she “embraced” the findings.

“But limited finances mean we have to make choices, even when the problems are urgent and need direct action. Delays often make things worse but we are unable to do everything at the same time. We have to conclude that the sustainability drive is beginning to slow down,” she said.

Aedes called on corporations, local councils, waterboards, the financial sector and tenants to work more closely together. The government should head the process, she said, with local input. “If we invest in climate adaptation now, we will prevent higher costs and damage in the future,” she said.