Social Housing in the Netherlands

Abstract

The social rented housing stock in the Netherlands is one of the largest in Europe, after France and the United Kingdom. The construction of social housing was first allowed by the Housing Act of 1901. Housing associations work as a revolving fund: they sell dwellings as a core component of their business and use the revenues for new investments. Rents are related to housing quality rather than tenant income. Quality is measured by a point system, where points are provided for amenities and the size of the house. Rents for social housing are lower than for private housing. Social housing is intended for people who cannot manage to find a dwelling on their own. This chapter provides information about social housing tenants. The legal basis for social housing is the Housing Act in 1901, which laid down the duties and responsibilities of housing associations. These are discusses in the chapter.