The Affordable Rent Act has been passed by the House of Representatives. This law by outgoing Minister Hugo de Jonge (Interior) should reduce some of the rents that currently fall in the private rental sector. As expected, the PVV helped pass the law to a large majority.
It’s all about a points system that determines the maximum rental price. Under the new law, this applies up to 186 points, or more than 1,100 euros. At the moment that is still 147 points, about 880 euros.
Tenants now have to go to the Rent Assessment Committee
This expansion should reduce the rents of hundreds of thousands of homes. In addition, this so-called housing valuation system is becoming more mandatory: tenants currently have to go to the Rent Assessment Committee themselves for a lower rent, but municipalities will soon also be allowed to enforce this.
VVD and BBB in particular are concerned that renting will soon no longer be profitable, causing investors to sell their properties en masse and the construction of new homes to decline. De Jonge believes that his law strikes a balance between the interests of tenants and landlords, and sees the possible sale of homes as a correction to the previous purchase of homes by investors.
‘The law intervenes significantly’
The Senate still has to consider the law. It is not yet known when that will happen. If the same parties vote in favor in the Senate as in the House of Representatives, the law would also obtain a majority there.
The law did not come without a fight, says political reporter Roel Schreinemachters. “The law intervenes significantly in the free market. Too drastically, say opponents of the law. Moreover, there is the fear that landlords will sell their property en masse. In that case, the intended goal of more affordable rental housing will not yet be achieved.”
‘End to extortionate rents’
Schreinemachers knows that supporters of the law cannot guarantee that this will not happen either. “But they think the rents have gone so far that they take that risk for granted. If the law is a success and puts an end to extortionate rents, this will be the first major concrete measure that will be passed with the support of the new House of Representatives. will improve the livelihoods of many people.”
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Tags: Hundreds thousands rental properties cheaper Chamber approves rental law RTL News
