The Hague City Council has adopted the “Housing Supply Memorandum” at the proposal of the Municipal Executive. This significantly relaxes the rules for structural division, room occupancy, and landlady rentals, effective April 1st. According to Alderman for Housing Co Engberts, this is an important step towards creating more affordable housing more quickly. “This is good news for every resident of The Hague who urgently needs a home,” he added.
The new rules align with the recent call from Chief Government Architect Francesco Veenstra, who emphasized that splitting houses creates additional housing much faster than new construction and that municipalities must provide the necessary support. The Housing Vision 2040 already included the ambition to facilitate splitting houses. The Housing Stock Memorandum now implements this.
Structural splitting made easier
In many more neighborhoods than before, it will once again be possible to divide existing homes into two or more independent dwellings. This had been rarely permitted since 2019. Starting April 1st, this will be possible again, provided the neighborhood’s quality of life is maintained. Additional restrictions will also be lifted or relaxed. For example, a new divided dwelling may be 5 m² smaller than before.
More space for room occupancy
The Hague is expanding the options for room rentals, making it easier for young people, among others, to access the housing market. A conversion permit remains required for rentals to more than two people, but this will soon be permitted in many more neighborhoods. The maximum percentage of homes in a neighborhood eligible for this permit will increase from 5 to 10 percent. Here too, the quality of life must be sufficient.
Landlord rentals, where the landlord lives in the property, are being further relaxed. From April 1st, rentals to more than one person are permitted without a permit, provided these persons belong to the same household or if they are two single-person households. While no permit is required, a notification requirement does apply.
‘Lives in motion again’
Alderman Engberts emphasizes that the measures are intended to stimulate more movement in the housing market. “People in their twenties are currently forced to stay at home, homeless people are spending too much time in emergency shelters, and seniors are finding too few suitable smaller homes. This expansion allows us to quickly create additional housing options that meet these needs. This helps get lives moving again and stimulate the flow of new homes.”
Text + Image Credit: Municipality of The Hague
Translation to English: The Hague Online