Social Housing in the Netherlands, Chapter 10
M. Elsinga
F. Wassenberg
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Abstract
Nowhere else in Europe does social housing dominate the housing market as it does in the Netherlands. Over one third of all households rent a social-sector dwelling. There are 2.4 million social rented dwellings, a number that has been stable during the last decade. Almost all social housing is owned by housing associations. These have to act on a commercial basis, but are required to use their profits for meeting general housing need - that is, for housing those people who are not able to find decent housing themselves. Housing associations are able to operate in a very flexible (or arbitrary) way. Much of the current discussion in the Netherlands surrounds the use of this flexibility.