Measures for problems on the housing market

The demand for housing in The Hague is much larger than the supply. In the coming years the city will grow by 4,000 to 5,000 inhabitants per year. To ensure that everyone can live comfortably, certain measures are needed.

Skyline of The Hague

In The Hague there are not enough properties available for the number of home seekers.

The fact that there are too few privately-owned homes for the number of house hunters is evident from:

The fact that there are too few rental properties for people looking for a home is evident from:

Everyone should be able to live in comfortable and affordable housing. This way The Hague remains attractive. The municipality is taking measures to ensure sufficient affordable housing. The measures apply to all properties (new and existing).

What is The Hague doing about the housing problem?

The municipality had a goal to build 2,500 homes every year. This goal must now be increased to 4,000 homes every year. There is an extra € 50 million available for affordable housing.

The manner in which the municipality wants to tackle the problems in the housing market can be found in the huisvestingsverordening (housing ordinance) and the Woonvisie 2022 (Housing Agenda 2022). And people who are not using a house to live in often need a permit.

Huisvestingsverordening

A large part of the measures can be found in the Begin external link: huisvestingsverordening(External link), end external link. (housing ordinance). The measures cover housing permits, allocation of living space, declaration of urgency and locations.

There are also agreements with, for example, housing associations, developers and investors.

Woonvisie 2022

The Begin external link: Woonvisie 2022 (RIS313365, appendix 1)(External link), end external link. (Housing Agenda) contains many measures. There are 4 themes:

    • The municipality has implemented an Begin link: affordable housing permit, end link.  for the social housing rental sector and the mid-market rental sector. This permit is necessary to be able to rent a property. A landlord is not allowed to rent a property to someone without a permit. As a result inexpensive and mid-market rental homes will go to people with matching incomes.
    • At least 20% of the new homes for rent have a rent below €985 (price level 2020). Half of these mid-market rental homes have a rent below € 880 (price level 2020).
    • In the case of new buildings, 20% of the privately-owned homes must be affordable.

    • The municipality wants to build more homes per year than previously agreed. Even with more homes, there should be 30% social housing throughout the city. The municipality expects housing associations to be the first to build social housing.
    • The rules for applying for a Begin link: declaration of urgency, end link. will become clearer. Only people who really need it can receive a declaration of urgency.
    • At least 5% of the social housing that becomes available is for first-time home buyers.
    • The municipality wants to ensure that people who have too much space move to a more suitable home. This way more social housing will become available.
    • The municipality sometimes buys or sells land itself for the construction of social housing and starter homes.

    • It is possible to divide 1 property into 2 or more apartments. Begin link: Stricter rules for holiday rentals, end link. improve the quality of life in the neighbourhoods and keep homes available for home seekers.
    • The Hague implemented purchase protection on 1 March 2022. This gives people seeking a home to live in themselves more chances on the housing market.

    • There will be more space available for caravan sites. There will be extra measures to help students, the elderly, labour migrants, and people with special needs find accommodation.

    Permit requirement for converting, dividing, and removing a residential property from the housing supply

    There is a permit requirement for:

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