Minister Mona Keijzer: “This State of Housing emphasizes that there is still work to be done. Unfortunately, we are not yet building the number of homes needed and the housing shortage remains large. However, the outlook is better. We have designated new areas for large-scale housing construction, removed rules and procedures to build faster, and are realizing new homes by better utilizing existing buildings. Above all, I see an absolute will among all parties – government, authorities, housing corporations, market – to overcome the housing shortage. And that is necessary. Because only together can we build the future for all Dutch people waiting for a home.”
Construction pace must increase
For the period 2025 to 2030, the term of the current Housing Deals, provinces have plans for 930,400 homes. This amounts to 127% of the agreed construction target. The aim is a plan capacity of 130%. Plans can be delayed or may not proceed at all. Half of the provinces have sufficient plan capacity, the other half still needs to grow towards that, partly because the construction task has increased. Nationally, there are sufficient construction plans to build 100,000 new homes per year.
Besides new construction, 16% of the housing task is realized by better utilizing existing buildings. For example, through transformations, adding extra floors, and splitting homes. The potential here is large. The minister encourages these possibilities further in the coming period. Non-independent housing units without their own house number, such as student rooms with shared facilities and some care homes, do not count towards the target of 100,000 homes to be realized per year. A home with 5 housing units counts as 1 home. In calculating the housing shortage and thus the target to add 100,000 homes per year, the existence of these units is taken into account.
Affordable housing costs
Fewer tenants have rent that is too high relative to their income. This percentage has dropped from 8% to 5.6%. This is partly due to rent reductions in 2023 and rising collective labor agreement wages and minimum wages. Tenants of social housing spend 30.1% of their income on rent and additional housing costs. For tenants in the private sector, this is 41.7%. The average housing cost ratio for homeowners has slightly increased to 22.8%. This is mainly due to additional housing costs, such as higher energy costs and local taxes. Most Dutch people remain below the European norm of 40% for total housing costs.
Sustainability: housing quality increases
The sustainability of homes, buildings, and areas in the Netherlands has further progressed. The share of gas-free homes has increased to 11.2%. The share of homes with poor energy labels E, F, and G has decreased to 15%. Also, CO2 emissions in the built environment have further decreased. Furthermore, livability and safety in the 20 areas of the National Program for Livability and Safety (NPLV) have slightly improved.
Annual overview
The State of Housing is an annual publication of the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning. The report shows each year how housing develops, focusing on construction, affordability, and quality of the housing stock.
