BOND PRECAIRE WOONVORMEN

Low income, high rent: Choosing between two forms of precarity

DSC_2658The Bond Precaire Woonvorm was approached by 54-year-old Fenna*, who is considering moving from a social rental home to an anti-squat home. She spends too much of her income every month on rent. Fenna is one of the many who finds it hard every month to pay her rent and other housing costs. Living in the anti-squat will be a lot cheaper than her current one
rental house. But is anti-squatting a solution for her?

Fenna currently lives in a social rented house that she moved to three years ago after a divorce. Last year she lost her job and now she has ended up on welfare. Since then, the rent has become increasingly difficult to pay. Despite the fact that she is in social housing and receives housing allowance, it is tight. Her rent makes up a large part of her monthly income (basic rent € 613,
gas-water-light € 90, rent allowance € 157, social assistance € 860). The fixed costs are therefore almost the same as her income from social assistance. A debt crisis is imminent if she does not quickly find a job or reduce her fixed costs. Fenna applies hard for a job, but now risks losing heart as the money stress grows over her head.

fenna is not the only one for whom the monthly housing costs are difficult to afford. The ratio
between income and housing expenditure is growing increasingly skewed for a large group of people, it turns out
from a report on housing expendituren of tenants and owner-occupiers from October last year. Approx
In 2012, 378 thousand tenants lost more than half of their income on rent, just like Fenna.
In addition, in 2012, there were also 282 thousand homeowners who spent more than half of their
income on housing costs (source CBS, BZK/WB). Most are in a pinch
after a drop in income due to job loss, illness or a divorce. Or like Fenna, a
confluence of several factors.

Tabel woonuitgaven

 

 

 

 

 

Moving to an anti-squat home would lower the monthly housing costs. Nevertheless, the fears
BPW that Fenna would end up in the rain if she were to move to an anti-squat home now.
Living in anti-squat is uncertain. With every eviction, it is waiting to see whether a new home is available
takes its place. At the moment there is a relatively large amount of anti-squat offer in Helmond, but how long does it take
this yet? Where will she go if the anti-squat agency is unable to offer a new home
when the contract expires.

The precarious life without housing security or privacy provides many of the residents in the anti-squat circuit
stress up. Have anti-squat residents no house peace and inspectors enter unsolicited
their house . An inspector may reprimand or 'warn' a resident (for example, if they
has not done his or her dishes) or even cancel a contract. And what if Fenna herself
feels bad because of unemployment and money stress and, for example, shoots up against a tegen
inspector of the anti-squat bureau? Should Fenna then hire a lawyer to fight the
defend against (unlawful) eviction? Doesn't she have enough stress in her life already? We
wish Fenna a place where she can feel comfortable, on which she can fall back, and from which she
which can build stability. Security of housing helps to offer a horizon to
financially difficult period.

As BPW, we would like to see a solution that helps to improve the financial corset of the
to make assistance bearable and to make the step to secure and paid work feasible. The social rent is
become too expensive. Flex renting is not a solution to this structural problem. It's a wipe for it
bleeding that easygoing public housing and policy makers are only too happy to refer to,
though they cannot possibly deny that there are only more 'Fennas'' to come. Anti-squat and others
forms of flexible renting stand in the way of a structural solution and even threaten to sabotage it.
But that is not enough for Fenna. Do you have tips for Fenna, or do you know a place where she
can live safely and affordably, forward it!

* Fenna is a fictitious name, as she prefers to remain anonymous.

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