Dutch housing coalition calls for deregulation to boost investment

A coalition of Dutch housing organizations, known as the Woonalliantie, is calling on the government to reverse restrictive housing market regulations. The group, which includes Aedes, Bouwend Nederland, NEPROM, and the Interprovinciaal Overleg (IPO), warns that current fiscal policies and rental regulations are making it difficult for investors and landlords to operate, potentially jeopardizing the government's goal of building 100,000 homes annually.

The coalition argues that rising risks and declining returns are driving investors away from the market. To encourage long-term investment in affordable housing and area development, they recommend lowering transfer taxes, removing taxes on fictitious returns, and adjusting regulations regarding middle-segment rents and corporate taxes for housing corporations.

In a related context regarding the scale of the market, recent data highlights the dominance of large-scale private landlords in the Netherlands. While smaller investors are reportedly more affected by recent policy changes, major players continue to manage thousands of units, with some planning large-scale developments to expand their portfolios.