Will the new system help with the long waiting time for social housing?

• Leanne Kraniotis

  economics editor

In a large part of the Netherlands you have to wait many years to be eligible for social housing. A new system is being introduced in Amsterdam and the surrounding area today, which means that you may have your turn earlier.

Someone who registers now and then responds to available homes for 11 months will now have priority over someone who has been registered for 10 years but is not yet actively looking.

This new system will apply in Amsterdam and surrounding municipalities such as Purmerend, Aalsmeer and Zaanstad. A total of 278,000 housing association homes fall under the new rules. Almost 450,000 people are registered and almost 100,000 people are actively looking for a housing association home.

“In some places, the waiting time can quickly reach 18 years. Only if you have been registered for a really long time, do you have a chance of getting a home,” says Anne-Jo Visser, director of the Platform Housing Corporations North Wing Randstad. “But from now on if you are in an urgent situation and really do your best to find a home, it may be your turn sooner.”

According to her, more than 250 people have already applied for the situation points today to increase their chances. “Many other regions are anxiously watching how this new system works out. If it succeeds, it will certainly be an example for the rest of the country.”

The housing associations in the Amsterdam region explain the new system in the video below:

The interest group of tenants is moderately positive. “They have done their best to make it a bit fairer,” says a spokesman for the Woonbond. “But you should not create the illusion that a lot of people will now get a home sooner. Above all, a lot of new social rental homes have to be built.”

“There are not suddenly more homes now,” admits Amstelveen alderman for Housing Adam Elzakalai (VVD). “But I do expect that it will lead to a fairer distribution. But additional homes will also remain necessary.”

Responding to properties is done online. “People who are less digitally skilled can be helped with this in libraries and community centers, for example,” says the alderman.

Mario van Tongeren, who has been registered for a rental home in Amsterdam for seven years, is happy with the new system. “If I’m not too picky, I hope to find something between now and two years.” He now lives in a studio of 25 square meters and responds to homes with a living room and separate bedroom.

Are you curious how long you have to wait in your municipality for a social rental home? NOS Op 3 made this interactive story about this below last year: