Minister De Jonge wants to tackle usury in the rental sector. That is why he is working on a new bill that expands rent protection. Now mainly low-income people are protected, with this law this can be extended to middle-income people. More rental properties will then receive a maximum rent. In addition, the law changes the housing valuation system in a few important ways.
More homes fall under the rent cap
Based on various characteristics, a rental home receives points in the Housing Rating System (WWS). For example, the energy label, the WOZ value and the number of square meters are considered. The total number of points determines the maximum rental price of the house. This is done up to a certain point limit. Above this limit, no rent regulation applies and the landlord can determine the rent himself. Currently, rent price regulation applies up to 148 points or €808.06. This will be increased to 186 points or €1021.02 if the law is passed. This will bring more rental properties under the rent cap.
HNA in favor of rent ceiling protection
The HNA is in favor of expanding rental price protection. Therefore, this bill is a good start. The HNA is curious to see what the bill will look like after consultation on the bill. As far as we are concerned, the bill can be tightened up on these four points:
- The HNA is in favor of stretching the WWS to 300 points. This bill offers rent protection only for rents up to €1021.02. With this choice, according to STEC Group’s September 2021 study, nearly 100,000 households will miss out on rent protection.
- In addition, it would be better if this regulation applied to new and existing leases.
- The HNA also believes that it is not the market but the quality of the rental property that determines the amount of rent. Therefore, the HNA opposes limiting or abolishing the WOZ cap.
- Awarding additional points based on the home’s energy label and exterior spaces is not wise in the HNA’s view. If landlords decide not to make a home more sustainable, there is a good chance that they will sell the home. This is precisely how rental properties disappear.
Image: Micheile Henderson, Unsplash
