Realizing community land trusts for affordable homeownership

Abstract

The Dutch housing sector is overheating, leaving mid-income earners stuck in the major Dutch cities' expensive rental sector. As a reaction to this, community land trusts (CLT) are sprouting in different European countries. The CLT presents a model which nullifies speculation, empowers the community and guarantees affordable ownership. In the Netherlands, this model could prove to ensure these three aspects as well. This research answers the question: What are the opportunities for CLT's in the Dutch housing market, and how can these be mobilized? This research includes a literary comparison between the support mechanisms, for CLTs in Europe, and the support mechanisms for housing models in the Netherlands. The comparison shows which mechanisms could contribute to the creation of a CLT. The mechanisms identified revolved around finance, land acquisition and organizational aspects. In the Netherlands, these mechanisms are mainly provided by the public sector and housing associations (HA), with some minor mechanisms coming from the private market. After that, a qualitative research also identifies opportunities and barriers in the Dutch housing market. The qualitative research includes 19 in-depth interviews with housing experts from different sectors. The opportunities include a list of similar mechanisms in Europe and the Dutch context. The main opportunities for the creation of CLTs lie in support from the public sector and the HAs. Recommendations on how to overcome barriers are presented. After that, a range of scenarios that show how the public parties, HAs and banks can contribute to the creation of CLTS, the necessary recommendations to do so.