Niels Aussems from Waalwijk, North Brabant, has started a petition to reduce the registration costs of rental housing websites. The idea came from Niels’ own experience. ‘I have been registered for eight years, have spent 90 euros on registrations for websites, and still do not have a home.’
This is not the first time that Niels has started a petition. Earlier this year, he fought against dog tax. ‘I have now started this petition to send a signal to politicians and housing associations. I think the way that living spaces are currently distributed needs to be redesigned. It is no longer suitable for the current climate,’ he adds.
He would prefer to live in Waalwijk, where he was born and raised, but is not confident that this will be possible.
Price differences
Registration costs of rental property websites vary enormously even within Brabant. According to Niels, websites for rental properties in Breda are the most expensive. On top of that, you have to deal with extension costs, as many websites ask you to renew your registration each month.
Niels’ petition was born out of his frustration. ‘You have to wait longer and longer due to the shortage of homes,’ he explains. ’75,000 homes need to be built each year. The question is whether the municipalities and housing associations adhere to this. This will all take a very long time.’
Nationwide portal
He has a clear goal for his petition, firstly that something will be done about the registration costs. Niels also wants to see a nationwide search portal created, replacing the hundreds of different portals by different associations and companies.
Kajsa Ollongren, a minister from the D66 political party, sees Niels’ point. ‘She welcomes the idea for a national search website,’ he says. ‘It is also legally permitted, but it is up to the housing corporation and the municipalities to recognise this. They have the green light, now they have to take a step.’
To read more or to sign the petition, visit https://gratisinschrijvenwoning.petities.nl/
Source: Omroep Brabant
Translator: Rachael Vickerman
