Political Parties on homesharing and homestay rental - Dutch general elections 2023

Housing is a top priority in the Dutch general elections 2023. What plans do the parties have to address the housing crisis? And what do they say about homesharing and homestay rental?

Housing is at the forefront of the agenda for most political parties in the Dutch general elections 2023. Good news and much-needed. We have been facing a housing crisis for many years now, affecting many groups in society. What plans do the parties have to address the housing shortage? And what do they say about homesharing and homestay rental? In this blog, we'll get you up to date.

Housing Market or Public Housing?

The Dutch general elections are just around the corner on November 22, and it's clear that housing is one of the most important topics. Housing is at the top of the agenda for parties across the political spectrum. The shortage of affordable housing has led to long waiting lists for social housing, skyrocketing prices for homes, and an increase in homelessness. Young and old, homeowners and renters, singles and families - the housing crisis affects a wide range of people.

How parties view the housing market or public housing - as more parties prefer to call it - and what solutions they propose vary per party. The VVD, D66, PvdA-Groenlinks, and JA21 pay a lot of attention to mobility in relation to housing. The ChristenUnie and 50Plus emphasize the importance of senior housing, for example, by creating more space for housing cooperatives. SP, PvdA, GroenLinks, DENK, and CDA want to regulate rents, and various parties have ideas to help first-time homebuyers.

Interestingly, the mortgage interest deduction is no longer a major election issue. The traditional divide remains: the more left-leaning parties are in favor of (gradual) abolition, while the right-wing parties support its retention.

More construction and more national control

Building one million homes in the next ten to fifteen years. Almost all parties want to significantly increase construction in the coming years. This requires a 'building plan,' a 'building offensive,' a 'National Housing Plan,' or a 'Housing Fund.' The wording may vary, but the solution is the same: building more and increasing government oversight.

Of the major parties, only the VVD is not in favor of a separate Minister for Housing and certainly not in favor of a separate ministry. It is undoubtedly playing in the background that this is the party that abolished this ministry a few years ago because the housing market was deemed 'finished.'

Another issue on which parties can agree is the abolition of the corporation tax. This tax was intended to fill the state treasury but, in practice, reduced the funds available for housing corporations to invest in new construction projects. So, it's either abolishing it or converting it into an investment fund for housing associations.

Promoting homesharing and homestay rental

One of the biggest differences compared to previous election programs are the positions on homesharing. While the trend over the past decade has been to tighten regulations to combat disturbances, we are seeing a reverse movement both at the local and national levels. Since the 1980s, the amount of m2 per person has increased, increasing the call to encourage homesharing.

Most parties mention homesharing in their programs, including GroenLinks-PvdA, CDA, Van Haga, and BBB. These parties recognize the need for more opportunities for homesharing and want to take measures to facilitate it.

Some parties specifically mention homestay rental as a solution to the current housing crisis. For example, Volt states: 'We will make homesharing easier and more attractive, for instance by helping municipalities stimulate homestay rental.'

NSC also acknowledges the importance of homestay rental as a housing option and promises to work on improving the possibilities for people to rent rooms from private landlords.

The ChristenUnie emphasizes the importance of facilitating turnover and promoting homestay rental to efficiently utilize the existing housing stock. This can help alleviate the pressure on the housing market and provide more people with access to affordable housing.

In short, if you are looking for a party that advocates for promoting homesharing and homestay rental, there are several options to choose from. Still unsure? Try one of the many online voting guides to help you decide.

We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed. If you have any questions about how political plans and policies may impact your situation, please read this blog about fixed-term rental contracts or contact us; we're here to help!