Housing - DutchNews.nl

Minister to encourage pensioners to move to smaller homes

The government wants developers and housing corporations to build 290,000 new homes suitable for the elderly, in an effort to persuade pensioners to move to smaller dwellings and free up housing for families. There are currently 3.5 million people in the Netherlands over the age of 65 but their number will rise to 4.8 million in 2040, and that makes action even more necessary, housing minister Hugo de Jonge said on Wednesday. ‘If the elderly leave a larger home, that... More >

Affordable homes plan threatens to derail

High costs, rising interest rates, slow processes for granting permits and uncertainty about policy changes are making it increasingly unlikely government targets for building affordable homes will be met, ABN Amro economists have said in a new report. By the end of September, permits had only been issued for 43,000 new homes, but the government target is for 80,000 to 100,000, the report points out. Housing minister Hugo de Jonge has pledged to build 900,000 new homes by 2030, of... More >

Investors buy up fewer homes to rent out

Private investors are buying up fewer houses to rent out than in previous years and in Rotterdam and Amsterdam their share of housing transactions has halved, according to new land registry figures. In the first half of this year, private landlords bought 5,200 properties, compared with 6,000 in the first half of last year and 8,000 four years ago. This means private investors’ share of housing transactions has gone down from 8% to 6% of the total over four years.... More >

Left-wing parties want ban on buy to let

Draft legislation which would stop private individuals renting out property which they previously lived in will be published later today by left-wing opposition parties GroenLinks and the PvdA. The legislation is aimed at stopping investors buying owner-occupied properties and renting them out, and private individuals from keeping and renting their old home if they buy a new one, the AD reported on Monday. This would make it easier for first time buyers to get a foot on the housing ladder,... More >

Fewer offices, shops become new homes

Some 9,500 new homes were created by converting former offices, shops and other commercial properties last year, national statistics agency CBS said on Friday. The figure is down on 2021 and the peak of 2020, when conversions boosted the housing stock by nearly 12,500, the CBS said. In total, just over 80,000 new homes were realised last year, which is below the government’s current target of 100,000. Initial estimates also suggest 4,500 homes were added to the national housing stock... More >

Amsterdam rejects 'erfpacht' increase call

Amsterdam city council is pressing ahead with plans to increase ground rent (erfpacht) paid by some home owners in line with inflation next year, the Parool reported this week. The increase in 2023 will be based on 2022’s inflation rate and that is expected to be in the region of 8.6%, the paper said. In some cases, home owners will have to pay more than €1,000 a year more to use the land their property is built on. Opposition councillors... More >

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