Give full housing benefit from eighteen years old, say youth trade unions

Above 18 years old, everyone should have the right to the full housing benefit, three youth trade unions and the Woonbond say in a new manifesto. Currently, this is only available from the age of 23.

With elections approaching, political parties are all promising to tackle the housing crisis. In doing so, they should also consider the interests of young people, states a manifesto from the National Student Union, CNV Jong, FNV Young & United, and the Woonbond.

“Building alone will not solve the crisis”, they say. They also want to discourage vacancies through taxation. Owning an extra property (pied-à-terre) in a large city like Amsterdam, where it is hardly used, should also become more expensive. The youth hope that this will result in more homes becoming available.

In addition, they advocate for an adjustment to the housing benefit. Until they turn 23, young people can only receive this benefit for lower rents (up to 477 euros). When they turn 23, this limit is doubled (to a rent of 954 euros). The signatories of the manifesto find this unfair.

Rooms

Furthermore, the housing benefit only applies to self-contained accommodations such as studios. Nothing is mentioned about this in the manifesto, but the LSVb has always been in favour of housing benefit for room occupants.

Last week, it became evident that more and more students are giving up their search for a room due to the housing shortage. According to housing professor Peter Boelhouwer, this housing shortage is partly due to various government regulations regarding fixed rental contracts, profit tax, and shared housing: landlords prefer to sell their properties.

Mortgage interest

The four unions also want the controversial mortgage interest deduction to be abolished. This would help young people looking to purchase their first home, they argue.

Opinions on this matter are sharply divided in politics. While parties like the PVV and the VVD want to retain this tax cut (according to the VVD, it is ‘an important instrument to bring stability to the housing market’), parties including GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, and CDA advocate for a gradual phasing out of it.

“Young people are heavily affected by the price-increasing effect of this deduction”, says policy officer Maarten Wiedemeijer from the Woonbond. “The mortgage interest deduction mainly benefits individuals with high incomes. Because so much money goes there, the prices of houses are driven up, making the housing market less accessible for starters.”

The youth trade unions have more proposals, such as higher taxes on vacant homes and second properties. The latter refers to a levy on, for example, holiday homes, emphasises Wiedemeijer. It is not intended to put landlords of student housing in a difficult position.