Central Drenthe focuses on vacant properties for migrant workers

Another part lives in homes, displacing their own residents in the already tight housing market. Alderman Dennis Bouwman is therefore making a proposal to the city council to improve the situation. He also wants to be able to maintain if things go wrong.

An estimated 500 to a thousand labor migrants work in Central Drenthe. The whereabouts of only 167 are known. That causes problems. For example, part of it is placed in houses in the villages by employers and temporary employment agencies. This is contrary to zoning plans and, according to the municipality, is not good for the neighbourhood. A larger number of them live in homes intended for one family.

Residents fear issues such as noise and parking nuisance, litter, neglected gardens and fire hazards. According to the municipality, social contact occurs less because of the language barrier. They also live in houses in the lower price range, which means that these houses are no longer available for starters. This creates tension in the already tight housing market.

In addition, holiday parks are sometimes also chosen. Speelstad Oranje, for example, has been in the picture of employment organizations for some time as a possible place. It is not an option for the municipality in the long term for migrant workers to live in these types of parks. As a result, the offer for holidaymakers decreases.

“In addition, the lifestyle of labor migrants deviates considerably from that of holidaymakers. The two are difficult to combine without causing nuisance to each other.” In many cases, the facilities also do not meet standards for housing or long-term accommodation, according to documents that the alderman sends to the city council of Midden-Drenthe.

Long-term living in the barns, buildings or in the yard of the company is also not seen as desirable. Companies choose this because it is cheap. In addition, time and money is saved because there is no commute. The municipality prefers not to do this because the companies are usually located in the outlying areas and that means that the migrant workers are far away from facilities. It also makes the worker very dependent on the employer and living in the workplace would not be good for well-being.

The new policy offers scope for the realization of, for example, room rental complexes
in the outer area. This is done by looking at vacant buildings. Those buildings are often big enough. There are also fewer neighbours, so that local residents are less bothered by the many traffic movements. The vacant buildings must meet many requirements before the municipality agrees. A labor migrant must have at least 15 m2 of usable surface, including 5.5 m2 of sleeping area. A maximum of 2 migrants are allowed in a bedroom.

For migrants who stay in the Netherlands for less than four months, mobile housing is permitted, such as in a caravan or a unit, for example on the employer’s site. The employer must then have quality marks and draw up a good rental contract with the worker. Mobile housing is only allowed for the duration of a harvest season and not outside the period 1 April-1 October.

It is also important to Bouwman that Midden-Drenthe will focus more on enforcement. Currently, no enforcement strategy has been established, making it difficult to verify compliance.

Personnel are needed for a new, structural approach. This includes expansion with two boas and legal support. “Because there has been no strategy in recent years, not all situations surrounding the housing of migrant workers have been identified and the licensed locations have not always been checked. That is why it is important to catch up with enforcement,” says Bouwman.

According to the alderman, it concerns the principle of ‘high trust, high penalty’. “This means that we give housing providers the confidence and the space to take responsibility for themselves. At the same time, a violation of this trust means that firm action is taken when things go wrong. In this way we want to encourage housing providers to keep the quality of housing in their own hands. “

In addition, better registration should help. If the municipality knows where and how many migrant workers live, it can act accordingly. Enforcement will therefore focus on checks and random checks, and an active search will also be made for places where illegal residents are staying. “The inspection will take place with a positive approach,” writes the alderman.

With the improved approach, Midden-Drenthe aims to tackle even more problems. For example, the current situation is prone to crime. Because migrant workers are dependent on their employer for housing, exploitation and thus organized crime are lurking. That is why the focus is on a separation between living and working.

Well-organized housing for migrants should also help them. It ensures acceptable rents for the migrant and a degree of safety. At a good residential location, the labor migrant can visit freely and he can decide for himself who will be received, for example a family member or social worker.

The new policy will be discussed in the city council tonight.