The Politics of Changes in Housing Supply and Tenure: Illustrations from Australia and the Netherlands

Abstract

Almost regardless of the welfare system and market context, the changing housing landscapes in Western countries show a number of similar trends. Households are confronted with decreasing access to homeownership and social renting, and increased reliance on private renting in combination with growing housing shortages and housing affordability problems. This article reflects—from the perspectives of governance and politics—on recent housing tenure experiences in Australia and the Netherlands, which are also relevant to UK developments. Similar challenges, leading to increasing housing supply targets, do not necessarily elicit the same policy responses, as countries’ actions often follow their historical pathways. Australia maintains largely market-oriented policies, while the Netherlands has made a U-turn away from the market. With an increasingly fragmented and precarious lower end of the market, issues of income and wealth inequality are on the agenda.