News item | 24-03-2022 | 12:00
As of 1 May, the WOZ value may be included for a maximum of 33% in the determination of the rent. The municipality uses the WOZ value to determine how much a home is worth. In areas with a large housing shortage, the use of the WOZ value in the rent has an unintended effect. Rents there are rising so much that they are becoming unaffordable for many people. Homes in those areas are becoming inaccessible for large groups. That is why the WOZ value becomes less decisive in determining the rent.
With the introduction of the measure, approximately 23,000 homes will remain available for the social housing stock and approximately 15,000 homes with a high rent will return to the social sector. In practice, the measure mainly affects the rental price determination of homes with 142 points or more based on the Housing Valuation System (WWS). These homes run the risk of disappearing into the free sector or are now rented out as free sector homes mainly on the basis of the WOZ value. New tenants of these homes will pay a lower rent that better reflects the quality of the home.
Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning, Hugo de Jonge: “This measure ensures that social rental housing also remains real social rental housing. This way, people and families with a low income have a better chance of an affordable house.”
Social and free sector
For tenants who already rent a home in the social sector, the rent may be lower due to the introduction of the measure. This applies to a small part of the tenants who rent a home that would end up in the free sector if it were to be rented out again.
For tenants who already rent a house in the private sector, the introduction of the maximization of the WOZ value has no effect on the rent. The measure may have an effect for new tenants in the free sector.
Effect on rent
Tenants can check for themselves whether they rent a home in the free sector or in the social sector.
With the rent check They will soon be able to determine the effect of the measure on the number of points from the Rent Assessment Committee. Tenants in the free sector can the Rental Committee for the first six months of the rental contract ask to look at the rent if they think it is too high. Tenants in the social sector can also after these six months to the Rental Committee†