The Flemish Housing Minister Melissa Depraetere (socialist) has said that the Flemish government will sanction local authorities that fail to build enough social housing. Ms Depraetere’s aim is for 56,000 additional social housing units (flats or houses) by 2042. However, this figure also includes 15,000 houses and flats that should have been built but weren’t between 2009 and 2025. Currently 200,000 families are on waiting lists for social housing in Flanders.
Flemish government to sanction local authorities that fail to build enough social housing
Published:
The number of homes that local authorities should build for use as social housing is defined by a Binding Social Objective (BSO). The BSO covering the period between 2009 and 2025 states that 50,000 new social housing units needed to be built. However, just 35,000 have been, a shortfall of 15,000. Meanwhile, the waiting list for social housing has grown to 200,000 families.
6 municipalities have been particularly lacking in the provision of new social housing. These are Aalter, Evergem and Brakel (all East Flanders), Holsbeek (Flemish Brabant) and Jabbeke and Alveringem (both West Flanders). Ms Depraetere told VRT News that "In recent years, local authorities have been able to do as they pleased. As a result, too few social housing units have been built. That is why I intend to be more ambitious and stricter. We will build more social housing and local authorities that refuse to do their bit will have to contribute to the rent subsidy scheme. That is a direct investment in the purchasing power of those who rent their homes.”
Ms Depraetere has also put forward a new BSO. The new BSO stipulates that 56,000 new social housing units must be added by 2042. These include the 15,000 units that were not constructed under the previous BSO. 45,000 of the units are mandatory and must be constructed by local authorities across the region. The remaining 11,000 are for local authorities that wish to go the extra mile.
New social housing tenants will pay more
The Flemish government has allocated what is described as “unprecedented budget” for social housing during the current legislature. Nevertheless, Ms Depraetere says that rising construction costs mean that more money is needed. ‘If we want to build more homes, everyone will have to contribute. That's why we're going to have to make some difficult decisions”. One of these is an increase in rent of between 30 and 50 euro for new social housing tenants.
Existing tenants will not have to pay more. “Let me be clear: for those who continue to live in their current home, nothing will chang. Those that move to a renovated or new home will pay 30 to 50 euro a month more but will also receive lower energy bills and enjoy greater living comfort in return.”
Social housing tenants will also be asked to make an extra effort to learn Dutch as the required level of attainment is being raised. If they are unemployed, candidates for social housing will also have to register with the Flemish employment and vocational training service VDAB.