Subsidy to encourage people to move out of their larger Utrecht homes ends pilot test

A relocation subsidy fund that Utrecht used to incentivize residents to move to a new location has run out of budget after nearly five months, the municipality said. Utrecht also praised the pilot project, saying the program has helped many households find a larger home.

Since September, a benefit payment has been available for Utrecht residents who moved from a large social housing rental home to a smaller social rental home, or to a home designated for seniors. The aim was to make room on the affordable housing market for people who were looking for a different or larger home.

The moving allowance amounted to 3,000 euros. An additional 2,000 euros was made available to people with a U-pass, a special pass for Utrecht residents with a low income.

Around 60 households used the scheme, with many them being able to make the move thanks to the extra allowance, which helped them to secure a “suitable home,” said the municipality. The project was given a budget of 250,000 euros in total.

The subsidy was a test, and it is not yet clear if it will be included in future plans. It is "one of the Utrecht measures to make better use of the existing housing stock,” the municipality said in a statement.