The prices for groceries in supermarkets continue to rise, energy bills are skyrocketing, and tenants face the largest rent increase in thirty years. For more and more people, it has become difficult or even impossible to make ends meet. Therefore, GroenLinks-PvdA is introducing an emergency law to freeze all rents for the upcoming year.
According to housing spokesperson Habtamu de Hoop, this emergency law is urgently needed to protect peoples livelihoods and regulate the rental market. “Housing is a human right, not a business model. In a time when more and more people are struggling to make ends meet, it is irresponsible and antisocial to allow rents to rise further. With this proposal, we want to take the lead in providing people with security and financial breathing space.”
The proposed emergency law stipulates that rents for all tenants – both in the social sector, mid-rent, and private sector – cannot be increased in 2025. This will prevent the planned rent increases of 5% in the social sector, 7.7% in mid-rent, and 4.1% in the private sector. Specifically, this means that a tenant in the private sector with a monthly rent of 1300 euros will save approximately 600 euros per year. For a mid-rent tenant with a rent of 1100 euros per month, the savings will amount to about 1020 euros. A social tenant with a rent of 800 euros per month is expected to have about 480 euros extra per year.
“For many people, this can mean the difference between making ends meet or falling into debt,” states De Hoop. “Especially young people and those without the right to housing benefits are already heavily affected. They often spend a large part of their income on housing costs. A rent increase is simply unsustainable for them.”
De Hoop emphasizes the urgency of the proposal. “Last year, we saw the highest rent increase in thirty years. If we do nothing, tenants risk losing hundreds of euros more per year again. For many people, that is simply unaffordable. It is time to take the lead and protect tenants and seriously address this housing crisis.”
To accommodate housing corporations, GroenLinks-PvdA proposes to structurally reduce their burden, just like in 2021. “This makes it possible to continue building affordably and responsibly,” says De Hoop. No compensation is provided for private landlords. “They have made significant profits in recent years. In these times, it is reasonable that they also take their responsibility.” For private landlords who build new homes or make homes more sustainable, a subsidy scheme will be established. “This way, we give tenants some relief and accelerate the construction of new homes.