In The Hague, it remains difficult for some groups to find a suitable home. Research shows that in multiple segments—both rental and purchase—there is high demand from residents wishing to move within The Hague. Therefore, the Municipality of The Hague is increasingly building specifically for these target groups.
The desire for a suitable home is greatest particularly among young people wishing to move within The Hague and the region, a home they are not always able to find. The Housing Vision 2040 establishes that this is the target group for whom construction is working hardest in The Hague.
Mismatch
The ‘mismatch’ is greatest particularly for owner-occupied homes under €300,000, social housing, and mid-market rentals. This picture of the balance between housing supply and demand emerges from ‘WoON2024’: a study conducted by ABF Research on behalf of the municipality into the mismatch between supply and demand on The Hague housing market. This study shows, among other things, that households under the age of 55, low-income earners, first-time buyers, and those moving up the housing ladder struggle to secure a social rental home. The shortage is exacerbated by the decreasing supply of available social rental homes, while demand is actually growing.
Flow-through from social housing is also proving difficult. About three-quarters of tenants of housing association properties can borrow a maximum of €250,000 for a home purchase, while the supply in this price range has fallen to 12% of housing transactions. As a result, there is little outflow from housing association properties, and the pressure on social housing continues to increase.
Right groups
“With the Housing Vision 2040, which we adopted a year and a half ago, we are fully committed to what is most needed,” says Alderman Co Engberts. “The WoON2024 study confirms that we are building for the right groups in The Hague, but that there is still a great deal to be done. We are aligning as closely as possible with what is most in demand.”
Although housing construction is under pressure due to challenging business cases, new construction remains crucial. Furthermore, there is also demand for more expensive owner-occupied homes: 21% of The Hague residents looking to move want to relocate within the city to this housing segment. New construction across all segments contributes to housing mobility, but an increased focus on affordable and mid-priced homes is necessary to restore balance to The Hague’s housing market.
Text: Gemeente Den Haag
Translation to English: The Hague Online