The municipality of Utrecht has obliged buyers of new-build homes up to €307,400 on municipal land to live in their homes themselves. This so-called self-occupancy obligation took effect on Friday, March 13, 2020.

Another change that has taken place in the municipality of Utrecht is an anti-speculation clause. With both measures, the municipality wants to keep investors and speculators out of the housing market. The next step expected is that the municipality also wants to include the regulations in agreements with developers when the municipality is not a landowner.

Other cities

In January, Amsterdam already introduced compulsory self-housing. In Rotterdam, the PvdA wants to introduce a five-year self-housing obligation for all owner-occupied houses.

The exceptions to self-housing obligation among themselves

With a self-occupancy obligation, a home may only be occupied by the buyer himself. This ensures that renting out is prohibited. The homestead obligation applies to both the first buyer and any subsequent buyers. To overcome the fact that certain groups are unintentionally affected, the municipality makes a number of exceptions.

• However, rentals to first-degree relatives are allowed
• However, during a temporary stay abroad, rental is possible

The anti-speculation clause means that a property may only be resold after five years. If the buyer wants to sell the property within this period, he must remit part of the profit to the municipality.