News item | 04-07-2025 | 15:15
More and more homes in the Netherlands are struggling with foundation damage and this has major financial and social consequences. Although foundation repair is initially the responsibility of homeowners, the government also sees its own role for the government. That is why the government is taking first steps by, among other things, improving the information provision, working together with municipalities where the problem is greatest and by informing and supporting homeowners with research and advice. Homeowners who are not eligible for a competitive loan for foundation repair can contact the Sustainable Foundation Recovery Fund from 1 July 2025. The approach is a response to the advisory report of Abdtopconsult ‘The Elephant under the Chamber’. Today, the Ministries of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) and Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) sent a letter to the House of Representatives.
The task is considerable: it is expected that 425,000 buildings and homes will have to deal with foundation damage in the next ten years. Towards 2050 this number rises to 780,000. Causes for the foundation problems are aging of buildings, subsidence and climate change.
Own role for the empire
Commissioned by the Ministries of VRO, IenW, LVVN and with involvement of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, ABDTOPConsult has drawn up the advisory report ‘De Olifant under the Chamber’. Based on this report, the government, together with fellow authorities, building owners, housing associations, the financial sector, the construction sector and knowledge institutions, proposes a joint approach. This is a long -term approach that consists of three traces: creating necessary conditions at national level, supporting homeowners in their approach with information, research and advice and support of six leader municipalities and regions to set up an area -oriented learning approach.
Investing in knowledge and quality
Between 2025 and 2028, the government invests in knowledge development, reliable data and risk models. Together with, among others, the Land Registry, Deltares and TNO, she is working on a national data infrastructure for foundation risks. At the same time, the empire stimulates innovative techniques for foundation research and foundation repair. To guarantee the quality of recovery, she, together with the parties involved, introduces recognition schemes and certifications. The government also supports decentralized authorities by drawing up a guide with water and soil measures that can help prevent foundation damage.
More support for homeowners
The second track focuses on owners who can hardly arrange or pay foundation repair themselves. The owners receive support through regional counters and public information. For people who, due to an insufficient income, cannot receive a loan on the regular mortgage market for necessary foundation repair costs, since 1 July 2025 there has been national access to the Sustainable Foundation Repair Fund (FDF). In 2026, the government will add 20 million euros for this national access. This is an important step in the context of the national approach. In addition, information about foundations is made better and earlier available with the purchase and sale of homes so that buyers gain insight into possible risks.
Area -oriented approach
The homeowner is not always able to tackle foundation problems alone. For example, because the owner is part of an association of owners or lives in a building block where several houses sag. In some cases, in addition to foundation problems, other social tasks also play in addition to foundation problems. That is why the government focuses on an area -oriented learning approach in the leading municipalities and regions of Friesland, Emmen, Rivierenland, Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Zaanstad. By working together with residents and local partners, action perspectives are developed that can also be used for other municipalities and regions.
With this approach, the government responds to various parliamentary requests, including fair cost distribution and attention to shallow foundations and subsidence. A quarter of an hourmaker is appointed for the coordination of this long -term approach.