Rotterdam launches project to deal with housing abuses in vulnerable neighborhoods

Rotterdam wants to use a more tailored approach to solve housing issues in vulnerable neighborhoods. The city will work together with a team of 40 specialists at the housing associations, police, care partners, and other involved parties. The goal is for issues like overcrowding and maintenance backlogs to improve the livability in the areas.

The mayor and aldermen of Rotterdam presented the plan called Rotterdams Goed Wonen on Wednesday. “It is rarely the case that there is just one issue at these homes,” the municipality said. “There is often a build-up of issues such as illegal room rental, excessively high rents, dilapidated buildings or residents who have not registered."

From now on, signals will no longer be dealt with separately but bundled together. By using data analysis and tailoring their approach to the area, the municipality hopes that they can take quicker action against housing fraud, abuses in the private rental sector, and residential nuisance. The target is to treat 1,250 cases annually.

It was reported by Propertynl that the project will mostly focus on five neighborhoods in Rotterdam Zuid: Bloemhof, Carnisse, Hillesluis, Pendrecht-Zuidwijk, and the Tarwewijk.

“With Rotterdams Goed Wonen, we are extending the efforts already being made in certain areas. We are bundling our power, taking action more quickly, and making smart use of data and technology. This way, we will not just take action against problems, we will solve them,” Chantal Zeegers, the Rotterdam vice mayor for Climate, Construction, and Housing, said.