Four out of ten housing associations impose an additional rent increase on tenants with a higher (middle) income. according to a tour of the Woonbond. According to the association, some tenants have difficulty making ends meet due to the higher housing costs.
The idea behind the income-dependent rent increase (IAH) is that tenants with a higher income leave their social housing sooner to rent in the private sector or buy a house. But many tenants are unable to find another home due to the shortage on the housing market. According to the Woonbond, they are “financially stuck”.
Housing associations may impose an additional rent increase on tenants with a gross annual salary of at least EUR 47,948. Depending on income and family composition, their monthly rent may increase by a maximum of 50 or 100 euros. People who earn less will see their rent rise by a few percent at the most.
Many dozens of people reported to Meldpunt Huuralarm because of the higher rent. “They indicate that they have to cut back on groceries, clothing or memberships of associations, among other things,” the Woonbond said. This applies, for example, to people whose salary or pension does not increase in line with rents.
‘Increase is always tailor-made’
“We know better than anyone that these are expensive times,” says a spokesman for the Ymere housing association. Social tenants with a high middle income will not receive a maximum increase this year. On average, the rent even goes down by 3 percent.
But the corporation does support that people with a higher income will receive a larger rent increase. “We cannot avoid raising rents for some this year,” says the spokesperson. According to him, Ymere is also struggling with higher construction costs and stricter sustainability requirements.
Ymere’s policy is that rents must be affordable and must match someone’s income. “It is always tailor-made,” emphasizes the spokesperson. “Tenants whose income does not match the new rent can come to us. We always solve that.”
The Woonbond asked 278 tenant organizations from all over the country about the agreements with landlords. This showed that 60 percent of the housing associations do not apply the IAH. “For example, they indicated that they did not need the income,” says a spokesman for the Woonbond. The tenants’ association calls the IAH an “unfair and ineffective measure”.
2023-05-12 13:24:12
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