Rotterdam housing: Havensteder tax issues and market stagnation

The social housing corporation Havensteder is facing criticism for paying excessive property taxes (OZB) on social rental homes in the Schiebroek district of Rotterdam. The corporation is slated to demolish thirty homes on Meidoornsingel, which are currently poorly maintained and partially affected by mold. Despite these conditions, the assessed WOZ values range from €504,000 to €588,000, leading to an estimated annual overpayment of at least €2,000.

Havensteder explained that reviewing all property values and filing objections for its approximately 44,000 homes would require significant organizational and municipal resources. The corporation stated that it expects valuation differences to average out across its entire portfolio. Regarding the Meidoornsingel properties, a spokesperson noted that a discussion with the municipality regarding the WOZ values may occur due to the planned demolition.

Separately, Rotterdam is experiencing a stagnant social housing market. With a success rate of only 5.1 percent for applicants through the regular system, many residents are turning to housing swaps to find more suitable living arrangements. The city's large social housing stock, managed by major corporations including Havensteder, Woonstad Rotterdam, Hef Wonen, and Woonbron, remains difficult to access due to long waiting lists and the loss of registration seniority when moving through traditional channels.