News item | 03-20-2026 | 13:20
The government is working on a new bill that will equate the position of status holders on the social rental market with other home seekers. The government is also making agreements with municipalities and other parties involved in an agreement about the rapid development of flexible residential locations for status holders, as an alternative to the use of social rental housing. As soon as this alternative housing is available in sufficient quantities, priority for status holders in social housing will no longer be legally possible, as agreed in the coalition agreement. Minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan of Housing and Spatial Planning informed the House of Representatives about this today.
This means that the cabinet is withdrawing the bill that was sent to the House of Representatives by the previous cabinet regarding the deletion of priority for status holders. The government is developing a new, implementable bill in collaboration with municipalities and other social partners. This takes into account the reactions of the Council of State, municipalities and other parties involved regarding the feasibility of the previous bill for a ban on priority for status holders. The government wants to reduce the pressure on the social housing stock, with alternatives for status holders and sufficient outflow from asylum reception.
“Priority for status holders in social housing is becoming increasingly difficult, because other home seekers are on a waiting list for too long,” says Minister Boekholt-O’Sullivan. “That is why I want to ensure that home seekers have a better chance of finding social housing and at the same time provide alternative housing for status holders. My goal is to create a new, implementable bill and quickly realize alternative housing where status holders, Ukrainians and other home seekers can go.”
Booster team
Minister Boekholt-O’Sullivan wants to scale up successful initiatives in the country. Several municipalities are already working on alternative housing, such as flexible housing. Home sharing can also be a solution. This means that fewer homes are needed to accommodate status holders, which reduces the waiting time for social housing. The minister has appointed a booster team that maps out these good examples and helps municipalities if housing is still proving difficult.
The aim is to have a draft covenant with agreements before the summer. The legal anchoring of these agreements will follow in the bill. The replacement bill will go into internet consultation this year.
