Objection and Appeal Against Placement on the Social Housing Waiting List in Rotterdam
Do you feel unfairly treated on the Rotterdam waiting list for social housing? The General Administrative Law Act (Awb) provides robust options for objection and appeal, particularly given the strict rules of housing corporations such as Woonbron, Vestia, and the Municipality of Rotterdam. This is relevant in cases of incorrect registration via the Woonregister Rotterdam, unexpected removal, or rejected urgency status for permit holders or urgent seekers in districts such as Charlois or Feijenoord.
Steps for Filing an Objection in Rotterdam
Within 6 weeks of the decision by the municipality or a housing corporation, you must submit an objection letter to the Housing Team Location of the Municipality of Rotterdam (P.O. Box 70012, 3000 KP Rotterdam). Clearly state the facts, your grounds, registration number, and provide supporting documents such as income statements. The authority must decide within 6 weeks, with a possible extension to 12 weeks. No response within the deadline? Then 'tacit approval' applies, and you may proceed to court.
Appeal to the Rotterdam Administrative Court
Following the rejection of your objection, you may appeal within 6 weeks to the District Court of Rotterdam, Administrative Law Sector (Schiedamse Vest 140). A hearing is standard, and you can request free legal assistance via the Legal Counter Rotterdam or subsidized lawyers. Judges review for proportionality, due diligence, and compliance with the local Housing Allocation Bylaw Rotterdam 2023.
Common Grounds for Success in Rotterdam
Typical grounds for success include errors in waiting time calculations (often due to double counting of Rotterdam urgency periods), discrimination based on ethnicity in overburdened districts, or insufficient justification for removal. Recent case law from the District Court of Rotterdam shows that in 2023, over 28% of claimants won their cases, particularly due to miscalculations in the Woonregister.
In Rotterdam, with 80,000 social housing units and long waiting lists, deadlines are crucial. Engage the Legal Counter or Woonplus in a timely manner to avoid pitfalls such as incomplete objections and to assert your right to affordable housing.