It launched last month foundation label can no longer be requested. The initiator, the Knowledge Center Approach Funderingsproblematiek (KCAF), has halted the initiative. There were too many complaints about it.
The purpose of the label is to give homeowners and buyers insight into the risk of foundation damage. “We had devised a test phase that would be low-profile,” says KCAF chairman Dick de Jong. Partly due to the media attention, that did not work, according to him.
In the past month, inquiries were made for about 850,000 homes whether there is a risk of foundation damage. Subsequently, requests came in about 3000 times to make an adjustment. There are more than anticipated.
“People say: it’s not right, I’m in trouble,” says De Jong. He finds this unrest very uncomfortable. “We are not a market party, but a foundation that wants everyone to be able to see what the risk could be.” The test phase would not run until the end of this year.
New attempt
In the coming months, the model will be improved to increase reliability. The reports help with this, says De Jong. By mid-2021, it must become part of valuation reports in a different form.
According to De Jong, one million of the 7.7 million Dutch homes are struggling with foundation problems. The situation would be urgent for 250,000 Dutch homes due to drought and low water levels.
–
