News item | 28-12-2023 | 09:30
Many new laws and regulations will come into effect in the new year. New rules will also come into effect in the field of Housing and Spatial Planning. This article provides an overview of the most important changes.
– The new one will take effect on January 1 environmental code in operation. The law bundles a large number of laws, rules and regulations regarding the physical environment into one law. In addition, the law provides a single digital counter for applying for permits and starting projects.
– The Construction Quality Assurance Act (Wkb) will come into effect on January 1, 2024. The Wkb is part of the Environmental Act and aims to improve the quality of construction and strengthen the position of the client.
Changes for tenants, landlords and municipalities
– Thanks to an amendment to the Housing Act, it will be possible for municipalities to have more of their own as of January 1 residents who want to rent a house or buy a new-build home in their municipality to give priority over people from outside the municipality. Municipalities can also give priority to certain (crucial) professional groups, such as teachers, nurses and police officers.
– From the new year, every municipality will open one reporting point for undesirable rental behavior. Tenants or home seekers can go here with questions or complaints about the behavior of their landlord or rental agent. If it turns out that the landlord or rental agent has violated one of the rules of the Good Landlordship Act, the municipality can take action.
– As of January 1, the cabinet will increase the monthly rental allowance. This means that almost all housing benefit recipients receive more than 30 euros extra per month. In this way, the government has chosen to help low-income households pay their bills. also apply new income and rental limits for housing allowance as of January 1.
– From January 1 to May 1, 2024, rents for homes in the private sector may increase by a maximum of 5.5%. It will be examined whether the cap on free rent can subsequently be extended. The permitted annual rent increase in the private sector is linked to inflation or collective labor agreement wage development until May 1, 2024. Rents may increase by the lower of these two percentages, + 1 percentage point. That 5.5% rate is based on 4.5% inflation (from December 2022 to December 2023) + 1 percentage point. The collective labor agreement wage development from December 2022 to December 2023 was 5.8% higher than inflation.
– On January 1, 2024, the Rental Protection Orphans Bill will come into effect. This strengthens the rental protection of young adult orphans in corporation housing. Young adult orphans (16 to 28 years old) who live in the corporation home of their deceased parent(s) continue the rental contract until they are 28 years old.
– As of January 1, Contrary to previous intentions, the possibility of municipal custom rules for energy and environmental performance for new construction has not been introduced. This means that municipalities may not impose higher requirements on these components than the Building Environment (Building Works) Decree (Bbl).
– As of January 1, the market exploration for housing associations abolished. This means that housing associations no longer have to request permission from the Housing Association Authority for activities that do not fall under the Services of General Economic Interest, such as the construction of medium-sized and private sector rental homes.
Changes for home buyers, homeowners and investors
– As of January 1, 2024, the lending standards for mortgage credit has changed on a number of points. Households can borrow more to purchase an energy-efficient home and to make their own home more sustainable. In addition, from 2024 onwards, the impact of a student loan on the maximum borrowing space for former students will be determined based on the current costs of their student loan, and single people will have more borrowing space.
– It is determined annually up to which home value consumers can make use of the National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG). The NHG limit for 2024 has been set at 435,000 euros.
– The Sustainability subsidy scheme for owners’ associations (SVVE) will be expanded as of January 1, 2024. This will provide more opportunities for subsidies for sustainability for homeowners’ associations, housing cooperatives and housing associations.