Minister Keijzer: “In some municipalities, livability and safety are under pressure, such as in the areas of the National Program for Livability and Safety. Many of those municipalities want more control over real estate transactions in vulnerable neighborhoods. By giving them the first right to purchase real estate, municipalities gain more control over the future use of those properties. With this preferential right, we provide municipalities with the tools to improve livability and safety in vulnerable neighborhoods.”

The preferential right can be applied in the (voluntary) sale of real estate in specifically designated residential complexes, streets, or areas with serious livability problems. With this preferential right, the function of the property can be preserved. The municipality is not obliged to purchase the property but does gain the opportunity to eliminate malicious activities. This includes properties used for drug activities, money laundering, or illegal housing of labor migrants.

The municipality of Eindhoven is one of the municipalities that has advocated for this preferential right. Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem: “We are pleased with the proposed amendment to the Wbmgp, especially with the addition of the preferential right. We could already use this tool for planning developments, but not in places where safety or livability is at stake. With the proposed expansion, we can do that. This way, we can take more control over developments in the neighborhood and effectively respond to social issues.”

The rules for selective housing allocation in neighborhoods where livability and safety are under pressure will also be adjusted to strengthen and protect communities:

• No more moving restrictions for people on welfare
  Residents with a welfare benefit living in a designated neighborhood who wish to move within that same neighborhood will no longer be restricted. This helps maintain their connection to the neighborhood.

• Equal access for newcomers and housing seekers from the region
  Municipalities will have more options to promote mixed neighborhoods. They can no longer refuse housing permits to housing seekers without work from income who have lived in the region for six years or more. This will be possible after the revision. Exceptions for groups such as retirees and students will remain.

• Stricter screening for nuisance and crime
  The screening of future tenants to obtain a housing permit will be expanded to include sources beyond police data. This will allow for scrutiny of municipal sanctions for housing nuisance, illegal rentals, prostitution, and cannabis cultivation. Or for a rental agreement terminated by a judge due to disruptive and criminal behavior.

• Protection of caregivers
  Municipalities may exclude housing seekers who have previously threatened or intimidated caregivers or other professionals from a designated neighborhood.

In addition to large cities, other municipalities and regions facing a buildup of livability problems will also be able to apply the law, such as regions on the edges of the country from the National Program for Vital Regions.
Serious livability problems also occur in the region and at the edges of the country. Therefore, the minister wants to give the law a new name: Law Strengthening Livability and Safety. The principle remains that municipalities only use the law when other measures are insufficient. The government will actively encourage better use of existing instruments – such as the Housing Act, the Good Landlord Act, and the Vacancy Act.