social rental agencies in belgium

Sociaal Verhuurkantoor

Social Renting Officein Flanders

The Flemish housing market

- Property of the occupant- Property of a private landlord- Social Hiring Company

Social Hiring CompaniesRegulated legislationPossibility for homelessLimited offer (5%)Wait at least 3 yearsRenting price & incomeLivelong lease

Private landlords

• A disregarded market• Legislation based on liberal principles • Small number of houses / landlord• Renting price quality house • Problems for those with a small

income

Side effects•Only for those who can't buy a house•The risks increase, the market

shrinks•Landlords refuse ‘risky’ tenants

Looking for new systems

The task of the SRO• To rent houses, to let these• Accompany the tenant• Cooperate with social welfare

Guarantees in exchange for a reasonable rental price.+ extra incentives

Results• 10 years = 4.000 houses• Each year: + 10%

Possibilities increase:• Subsidy that grows with the offer• New instruments for

the landlord

For the tenant

• Ordinary house in a ordinary street• Rent not so cheap (except with a

housing benefit)• Tenant accompaniment

To assign the house

Objectively and controllable assignSpecific: a point system- Income (20)- The need for a house (20)- Children (6)- Mutation (3)

The SRO-tenantNew tenant:• 50% absolute minimum, 75% a

replacements income• 10% had no home before

Leaving tenant:• 1/3 go to social housing company• 1/10 because the SRO

stopped the contract

To end: is this the solution ?• Needs for more of everything: social &

private houses, payable and quality • More relief in the social welfare• Seek for new perspectives

Is a qualitatively house for everyone an illusion ?