Appropriate Allocation of Social Rental Housing in Rotterdam

Appropriate allocation requires housing associations in Rotterdam to allocate 80-95% of social rental housing to households with an income below 200% of the social minimum, as laid down in the Housing Act article 1.1. For starters in the region, a quota of 20% applies to middle incomes up to €47,699 gross per year. Every tenant undergoes an 'appropriateness test': the rent price may not exceed 30% of the (family) income. When allocating via Woonnet Rijnmond, the system automatically checks your income via DUO and the Tax Authorities. Exceptions are possible in cases of urgency, such as medical necessity or informal care, approved by the municipality of Rotterdam. Violations by housing associations result in fines of up to €100,000 per dwelling. In Rotterdam, housing associations such as Woonbron, Vestia and Havensteder allocate more strictly due to the enormous pressure on the housing market, with waiting times of up to 12 years for popular neighbourhoods such as Charlois and Feijenoord. As a tenant, you can object to the Authority for Housing Netherlands or the Rotterdam Tenants' Council. This policy ensures that social rental in Rotterdam remains affordable and prioritises low incomes. Specific to Rotterdam: the municipality monitors housing associations via the regional Housing Market Information Centre (WMIC). Check your personal appropriateness with the calculation tool on Rijksoverheid.nl or via the Rotterdam Housing Guide.