Nota Woonsurvey 2023

The 2023 Woonsurvey, produced by Steunpunt Wonen, presents the latest findings on housing conditions, quality and affordability in Flanders. The study was coordinated by the agency’s research team, with David de Smalen and Sien Winters leading the analysis. Steunpunt Wonen, a public‑sector knowledge hub, commissioned the work for the Agentschap Wonen in Vlaanderen and collaborated with the field‑work provider Profacts and the inspection firm Vastgoedexperts. The report follows a decade‑long series of surveys that began in 2005 and is based on interviews with 4 467 households (28.8 % of the gross sample, 32.3 % response rate for valid addresses).

The share of private renters has risen by roughly two percentage points since 2018, while the overall proportion of owners remains stable. Among owners, the fraction without a mortgage has fallen (from 39.4 % in 2013 to 32.0 % in 2023) and those with an active mortgage have increased (to 38.5 % in 2023). Social housing continues to represent about 5‑6 % of the market, with little change over the last decade.

Good‑condition dwellings account for 77 % of all homes, unchanged since 2018. The share of houses in poor or very poor condition has declined from 11 % in 2018 to 9 % in 2023, yet one in ten homes still falls into this category, especially among renters. The survey records that 17 % of dwellings report moisture problems, a modest increase from 2018, likely influenced by an unusually wet year in 2023.

Roof insulation and double glazing have progressed markedly. In 2023, 91.9 % of owner‑occupied homes have insulated roofs and 97.5 % feature double glazing. Private renters lag slightly behind owners but still show strong gains, with 80.5 % roof insulation and 94.2 % double glazing. Overall, 89.4 % of all dwellings are roof‑insulated and 96.7 % have double‑glazed windows.

The traditional “woonquote” (housing cost exceeding 30 % of disposable income) shows that about one‑fifth of households face affordability risk, unchanged since 2018. Private renters are the most affected, with roughly 50 % spending over 30 % of income on rent. Owners with a mortgage see a modest reduction in risk (from 27 % in 2018 to 21 % in 2023). When broader housing‑related costs (energy, water, maintenance) are added, the threshold rises to 40 %; the share of households exceeding this limit grows from 15.8 % in 2018 to 17.7 % in 2023.

Housing affordability problems remain concentrated in the lowest income quintile, where 33 % of households exceed the 30 % threshold (up from 31.9 % in 2018). Higher quintiles experience markedly lower risk, with the top quintile at 6.6 % in 2013 and stabilising around 9 % by 2023.

The 2023 survey applies a refined weighting scheme that aligns 99.5 % with the Flemish population across weighted variables, improving comparability with earlier waves. The new weighting has been retro‑applied to the 2018 data, allowing consistent trend analysis.

The data underline persistent inequalities: lower‑income groups face higher affordability pressures and poorer housing quality, while owners benefit from better energy‑efficiency upgrades. The modest decline in severely deteriorated homes suggests progress, yet the continued presence of moisture issues signals a need for targeted renovation support. Policymakers aiming for a sustainable, inclusive housing market should focus on subsidised retro‑fits for vulnerable renters, maintain the momentum in insulation and glazing upgrades, and monitor the impact of climate‑induced moisture on building health.