The Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning is responsible for ensuring that sufficient affordable homes are built. Since 2022, the Minister has set a target of 100,000 new homes a year, 30% of which are to be social rented homes. Housing associations play a key role in achieving this target. In the 2022 National Performance Agreements, the Minister therefore reached agreements with housing associations on the number of social rented homes and mid-market rental homes to be delivered.
What are we auditing?
We are examining whether the Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning’s policy is effective in achieving the targets set and delivering on the agreements made. We are also considering how the Minister substantiates the policy and whether the Minister has and maintains a clear view of progress towards the targets and agreements. In addition, we examine what action the Minister is taking to achieve the targets and deliver on the agreements.
Why are we auditing this?
The Netherlands has a persistent shortage of affordable housing. As a result, social housing tenants are taking longer to move on, causing the average waiting time for a social rented home to increase further. Policy must therefore facilitate sufficient mobility in the housing market. However, the latest annual financial assessment of the National Performance Agreements shows that housing associations face a shortfall of approximately €19.4 billion if they are to fulfil the agreements made.
What is the current status?
Construction of affordable homes by housing associations
Information the Court of Audit collects in the performance of its statutory tasks is confidential and not made public. Information shared between the Court of Audit and the auditee concerning the information it collects is not made public either and cannot be released under a freedom of information request.
We submit our reports to the House of Representatives. They are then published on our website.
Do you want to take part in this audit?
The Court of Audit invites you to share any information you may have that would benefit our audit. We appreciate all contributions, knowledge and experience you may care to share with us on this topic. Simply send an email to bijdrage@rekenkamer.nl.
We read all emails carefully and treat them in confidence. However, we are not able to reply to every contribution we receive.