Regulatory and organizational issues in market-led social housing: the case of the Netherlands

R. WALKER*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal PublicationsReview articleOther Review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Governments across Europe are restructuring social housing subsidies. Methods and mechanisms obviously vary, though a frequent approach has been to change the balance of subsidy between object and subject subsidies. The Dutch approach to this has been spectacular, and one of the more interesting responses. Briefly this process has involved non-profit housing associations repaying all outstanding government loans and government paying associations the value of future subsidies to associations whilst reducing and decentralisting regulation. This new system, completely implemented by 1995, is seen to re-assert associations' independence working within the market, with substantial assets to meet the social task. The concerns of this article are to provide a preliminary exploration of this changing regime focusing, firstly, on the nature and impact of deregulation and how government ensures that social policy objectives are met, and, secondly, organizational responses by associations. These concerns have been addressed through research interviews with key personnel within the sector, namely: the Ministry of Housing; the Nationale Woningraad (one of the two umbrella organizations); a local authority responsible for the regulation of associations; and two housing associations. Within the associations, a range of actors were interviewed including: chief executive; directors of finance, policy, personnel, and housing administration and maintenance; and an area housing manager. The research was concentrated in the Randstad and focused on some of the larger associations, one with a stock of around 13 000 homes and the other with over 16 000. These associations had substantial amounts of property located in a number of tight geographic areas with their housing administration service thus located closely to their tenants. Both were relatively affluent associations having developed substantial reserves during the late 1980s and benefited under the subsidy swap programme. Prior to presenting these research findings the paper outlines the changed subsidy system.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)79-84
Number of pages6
JournalRegional Studies
Volume32
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

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