Heerlen picks up with new sharp housing policy
The living and housing climate in Heerlen is under pressure. Usurious rents are a regular occurrence, vacant properties are a thorn in many people's side and abusive landlords are harming their tenants and their environment. In recent years we have taken major steps to get a grip on these issues. The 'Grip op Wonen' policy package, from the end of 2023, has already had an effect over the past period.
Now the municipality is catching on. With the new policy package Grip op Wonen 2.0, we are taking strong measures. Landlords who misbehave will be fined, landlord permits will become mandatory in more neighborhoods, and vacant housing will be combated.
With this approach, Heerlen aims to improve housing quality, better protect tenants, and keep neighborhoods livable.
Alderman Wonen Casper Gelderblom:
"With the policy package Grip op Wonen 2.0, we continue to build a fair housing market and livable neighborhoods. By making landlord permits mandatory in more Heerlen neighborhoods and combating vacant properties, we are tackling nuisance and deterioration. We will continue and strengthen the course we have set in recent years. For an even more social and stronger Heerlen."
Administrative fines
The Grip op Wonen 2.0 package consists of several measures. With a new penalty policy, landlords who do not comply with rules about good landlord management can now count on a fine. Think of abuses such as intimidation, discrimination or charging excessive service charges. The municipality sets clear amounts for fines, so that we can act faster and stricter in case of bad landlordism.
Landlord permit expands
The permit requirement for landlords already applied in Vrieheide and near Uterweg. But we extend this obligation to Hoppersgraaf, Heerlerheide Kom, Passart, Zeswegen, Eikenderveld, Nieuw Einde, Burettestraat and Versiliënbosch. Tenants in these neighborhoods or streets thus get more legal protection, and we bind rogue landlords to stricter rules.
Tackling vacancy more strictly
The vacancy ordinance gets a major expansion. Not only stores and offices in the city center are covered, but now also homes in neighborhoods where long-term vacancy is a problem. Homeowners are required to report vacancies. We can force them to rent out their property or they will be fined if they do not report vacancy. In this way, Heerlen wants to make more housing available and prevent squalor.
Attention to room rentals and enforcement
The policy rule Room Occupancy has been tightened. There are now clear limits for the number of rooms and the distance from other rooming houses. It will be easier to reject applications that put pressure on the quality of life in a neighborhood. We are also working on an internal landlord register. This will give us better insight into who rents where and how, and where problems arise. It helps us with enforcement.
Broader and decisive
Grip on Housing 2.0 is a robust package consisting of clear rules, regulations and policy changes. The council chooses to prioritize neighborhoods where the problems are greatest. But the goal is to ultimately make the entire city stronger.