There is so little housing available that students are increasingly giving up their search for a room. The Dutch National Student Union (LSVb), CNV Young and FNV Young & United, together with the Woonbond (Dutch tenants’ association), presented a manifesto to address the housing crisis.

With elections approaching, they are calling for a full housing allowance starting at age 18 and for the gradual abolition of the controversial mortgage interest tax deduction. They also want to introduce a vacancy tax. The House of Representatives has now agreed to that last proposal.

Unacceptable 

In the Netherlands, more than 180,000 homes are vacant, including over 30,000 that have been empty for more than a year. “Long-term vacancy of homes is unacceptable during a housing crisis,” the manifesto states.

If the Senate also approves the plan, municipalities will soon be able to levy a tax on homes that have been vacant for more than a year. They can decide for themselves how high the penalty will be. Municipalities can also choose not to introduce the tax if they consider it unnecessary.

A vacancy tax should encourage owners to sell or rent out their (additional) properties, which could help students who are looking for a place to live.

Promising step

“We see this as a promising step from politicians,” says Maaike Krom, chair of the Dutch National Student Union (LSVb). “But municipalities need to actually act on it. And much more still needs to be done to solve this crisis.” The LSVb promises to continue campaigning.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.