NOS News•
Landlords can no longer easily conclude a temporary lease. There is a majority in the House of Representatives for an initiative law of coalition party ChristenUnie and opposition party PvdA to end temporary leases.
The introduction in 2016 of temporary rental contracts for a maximum of two years has had a negative effect in practice. It was intended that more rental properties would be added, but that did not happen.
Stress
Furthermore, the temporary rental contacts lead to uncertainty, stress and high moving costs for tenants, according to the applicants. Municipalities complain about the deterioration of the quality of life in neighbourhoods, because tenants only live there for a short time and leave again.
The landlord also often has a stronger position of power and can introduce a rent increase or refrain from tackling overdue maintenance without resistance from the resident. “Students are often trapped, live in moldy floors, but don’t dare to ask their landlord anything,” emphasizes proponent D66 MP Boulakjar.
Quest
“There is great uncertainty among tenants, which sometimes even leads to the postponement of having a child,” CDA MP Geurts expresses the feeling of several parties. “The tension of looking for a home again leads to sleepless nights.”
The initiative law to make the permanent contract the norm again is supported by coalition party D66, SP, GroenLinks, the Party for the Animals and most likely the CDA and the PVV, as it turned out during a debate in the House of Representatives tonight.
The PVV wants an exception to be made for elderly people who have bought an extra home for their retirement and who want to rent it out temporarily. “Can they still sell their house or are they stuck with that tenant indefinitely?” PVV MP Kops wants to know.
The bill will contain a number of exceptions: for example, temporary rental contracts for large families, young people, students and PhD candidates will continue to exist, but probably for five years. The CDA wants the group of exceptions to be expanded to include contacts for short-stay homes, emergency shelters and orphans.
gnaw
Government party VVD is not very enthusiastic about adjusting the current practice. VVD MP De Groot fears that the number of rental properties will decline in this housing crisis. “The offer will take a hit and we won’t help anyone with that.”
Minister De Jonge (Housing) does not see much in abolishing the temporary leases. He is already tackling rent increases by extending the points system to rents in the free sector up to a maximum of 1,000 euros per month.
The minister does want to allow municipalities to prohibit temporary rental contracts locally in certain neighbourhoods.
The debate will be completed later and the votes on the bill will eventually reveal how many parties support it.
