First for Drenthe housing corporations accelerates housing construction and sustainability

The minister is working on changing regulations to make this type of project support possible for all corporations. Through project support, financially strong corporations can assist a less financially strong corporation in the region. This can be done by taking over assets, providing financial resources, or spreading construction tasks. This way, homes can be built, maintained, or made sustainable where there would otherwise be no funds. Currently, this can only be imposed nationally, but with the regulatory change, it can also be done voluntarily and regionally.

Minister Mona Keijzer: "These corporations show how it can be done differently: neighbors helping each other in difficult times. Their collaboration not only strengthens each other but also underscores the important role that corporations play in providing affordable and quality housing. Dutch corporations have a collective investment challenge of over 110 billion euros for the construction, maintenance, and sustainability of social rental housing. Collaboration and financial support for each other are essential to achieve these goals."

Actium and Domesta are both taking over a new construction task from Woonconcept for a total of about 250 homes. Woonservice and Actium will exchange homes in the region. The three corporations will each contribute 1 million euros annually to Woonconcept for five years. This support allows Woonconcept to improve and make a total of 2,000 homes more sustainable faster.

The collaboration was established after intensive discussions with tenants, municipalities, and regulators. The Social Housing Guarantee Fund and the Housing Corporations Authority were also involved. The Drenthe corporations emphasize that it is about solidarity. The joint social task is central: ensuring that all tenants in the region can live well and affordably.

Minister Keijzer would like to see this type of collaboration more often. Therefore, the Ministry of VRO is working on an adjustment to the Admission Institutions Decree (BTIV), so that project support can be deployed more specifically. The internet consultation for the amendment to the BTIV has now been completed. Soon, the proposal will be submitted for advice to the Council of State, after which the minister will present it to the House of Representatives.

Want to read more about project support between housing corporations in Drenthe? Read here the interview with the directors.