Housing association: Lack of affordable housing cannot be solved with expensive rents

The lack of affordable housing cannot be solved with expensive rental apartments, according to the housing association, which defends the interests of tenants and people looking for housing. On Thursday, the NVM (National Association of Real Estate Agents) announced that agents increasingly see landlords selling their rental properties. An investigation by the real estate association also revealed that the so-called "sold-out" houses are often expensive rental properties.

NVM estate agents sold more than 35,000 owner-occupied homes in the second quarter of 2024. This is 3% more compared to the second quarter of 2023 and 18% more compared to the first quarter of 2024. Overall, the real estate association sees a price increase in home sales. For instance, in the second quarter of 2024, the median sales price of an existing home is 468,000 euros. Compared to the first quarter of 2024, the price has increased by 7.2%, which has only happened once before in 29 years, NVM reports.

The NVM is concerned about the lack of alternatives for tenants who cannot buy a home, but according to the housing association, tenants are no better off with an expensive rental home. "There is a need to work towards a sufficient number of affordable rental homes," argues the housing association. Therefore, the most important thing is to create additional living space, as there is a significant shortage in the Netherlands, a spokesperson explains.

According to the association, there has been a trend over the last ten years for many houses to be bought up by investors. These became expensive rental properties that would otherwise have gone to first-time buyers, explained a spokesperson. The fact that rental properties are now being sold again is partly a correction of what has happened in recent years, he said. "This does not mean that there are no more rental apartments, nor does it mean that more will not be built," the spokesperson emphasizes.