The demand for housing cooperatives in the Netherlands

The document discusses the growing demand for housing cooperatives in the Netherlands, authored by Ewoud Kooijman as part of a master's thesis at Eindhoven University of Technology. This research aims to explore sustainable housing solutions that address the pressing issue of affordable housing in the Netherlands, highlighting the potential of housing cooperatives as a viable alternative.

The Dutch housing market currently faces a significant shortage, requiring the addition of 900,000 dwellings by 2030, with 300,000 designated as affordable. Housing cooperatives, which ensure long-term affordability by prohibiting the sale of dwellings, have shown success in countries like Germany, Denmark, and Sweden but remain underutilized in the Netherlands. This study reveals that empirical evidence regarding the demand for housing cooperatives based on people's preferences for housing tenure is lacking.

To fill this gap, Kooijman conducted an explorative study using a stated choice experiment, involving 1,404 respondents, 945 of whom provided usable data. The research examines preferences for four common housing tenure forms: individual owner-occupied, apartment rights, social rent, and private rent, contrasting these with housing cooperatives.

The analysis indicates that the monthly cost of housing is the most influential factor in respondents' choices. Two distinct preference classes emerged: one class showed a strong inclination towards individual ownership, while the other indicated a preference for housing cooperatives, especially among younger respondents aged 35 and below. This latter group is primarily concerned about housing costs and is willing to consider alternatives that offer lower expenses.

The study estimates that between 1.2 and 1.32 million housing units could be demanded in the form of housing cooperatives, based on the preferences identified. Notably, 48% of participants expressed a potential preference for this form of tenure, highlighting a significant market opportunity for sustainable housing development.

The findings suggest that for housing cooperatives to thrive, policy interventions are essential. The Dutch government should facilitate the establishment of cooperatives through more standardized guidelines, land reservations for cooperative projects, and favorable mortgage conditions from banking institutions. The recommendations also stress the importance of maintaining individual control and responsibility within cooperatives to ensure their long-term viability.

The research underscores the need for further studies with a representative sample of the Dutch population to validate these findings. Future investigations could explore additional factors influencing housing preferences, such as location and dwelling size, and assess how these preferences shift in different economic contexts.