Social Rental Agencies in Belgium

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Sociaal Verhuurkantoor Social Renting Office in Flanders

description

Presentation given by Swa Silkens, VOB, Belgium at a FEANTSA conference on "People who are homeless can be housed: An insight into successful practices from across Europe", Cardiff, Wales, 2008

Transcript of Social Rental Agencies in Belgium

Page 1: Social Rental Agencies in Belgium

Sociaal Verhuurkantoor

Social Renting Officein Flanders

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The Flemish housing market

- Property of the occupant- Property of a private landlord- Social Hiring Company

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Social Hiring CompaniesRegulated legislationPossibility for homelessLimited offer (5%)Wait at least 3 yearsRenting price & incomeLivelong lease

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Private landlords

• A disregarded market• Legislation based on liberal principles • Small number of houses / landlord• Renting price quality house • Problems for those with a small

income

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Side effects•Only for those who can't buy a house•The risks increase, the market

shrinks•Landlords refuse ‘risky’ tenants

Looking for new systems

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The task of the SRO• To rent houses, to let these• Accompany the tenant• Cooperate with social welfare

Guarantees in exchange for a reasonable rental price.+ extra incentives

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Results• 10 years = 4.000 houses• Each year: + 10%

Possibilities increase:• Subsidy that grows with the offer• New instruments for

the landlord

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For the tenant

• Ordinary house in a ordinary street• Rent not so cheap (except with a

housing benefit)• Tenant accompaniment

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To assign the house

Objectively and controllable assignSpecific: a point system- Income (20)- The need for a house (20)- Children (6)- Mutation (3)

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The SRO-tenantNew tenant:• 50% absolute minimum, 75% a

replacements income• 10% had no home before

Leaving tenant:• 1/3 go to social housing company• 1/10 because the SRO

stopped the contract

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To end: is this the solution ?• Needs for more of everything: social &

private houses, payable and quality • More relief in the social welfare• Seek for new perspectives

Is a qualitatively house for everyone an illusion ?