Dutch housing shortage increases

Due to the decline in the number of building permits issued in 2019, and the unanticipated high increase in the number of residents and households, the housing shortage can rise to 360,000, and possibly even 380,000, in 2022.

Action is needed to address the rising shortage and exploit the current opportunities that are now within reach. Builders and developers have initiatives ready for 100,000 homes annually for which a building permit is possible. Sufficient capital is available to realise these projects.

 Investors have indicated that 26 billion euros is available for affordable new rental homes over the next three years. Housing associations have also indicated that they can invest more and want to realise approximately 30,000 new homes in 2020. These results and more are evident in Capital Value’s annual survey, produced in conjunction with ABF Research, that is being presented today at The Railway Museum, in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

In 2019, 77,000 new homes were completed. This number is higher than what was realised in previous years and meets the objectives of this Cabinet. Still, the housing shortage rose even more to 315,000 homes (4% of inventory) at the beginning of 2020. The number of residents increased by 132,000, and the number of households by 90,000 in 2019. As a result of this rapid growth and the limited number of building permits that were issued in 2019 (approximately 55,000), the housing shortage.