Barendrecht seeks higher local priority for social housing

The municipality of Barendrecht is seeking to increase the priority given to local residents for social rental housing. While the current legal maximum for local priority is set at 50 percent, the local government aims to reach a threshold of 60 to 70 percent for its own inhabitants.

This initiative is part of a five-year pilot program supported by the province of Zuid-Holland. The pilot aims to adjust how local and regional priority is calculated in the Rotterdam housing market region. Specifically, it proposes that individuals forced to relocate due to demolition, renovation, or restructuring should not count toward the 50 percent legal limit for local priority. This adjustment would create more space for other residents with local ties to secure housing.

Lennart van der Linden, the Alderman for Housing, stated that the goal is to ensure residents who grew up, work, or have family in Barendrecht have a realistic chance of remaining in the municipality, particularly during periods of housing scarcity.