Diemen’s young people and starters will once again miss the boat
The city council must soon decide on the relocation of 18 social housing units to the Maalderij, near the sports fields.
This plan will cost the municipality 1.3 million euros.
What about the numbers of flex homes?
Thirty flex homes were purchased by the municipality with funding from the state, earmarked for Ukrainian refugees. These homes are on Bergwijkdreef, but have to go due to planned new construction.
Therefore, another 30 new flex homes were purchased that were not funded by the State. These 30 new flex homes are already on Diemerdreef in Diemen-Zuid. With the new purchase, the municipality saves money by not having to house the Ukrainians in hotels when relocating the old flex homes.
The 30 older homes will become vacant as the Ukrainians move to Diemerdreef.
After the vacancy, 12 older flex homes will also be moved to Diemerdreef. For the remaining 18 flex homes, the proposal is to put them near the Maalderij.
Onafhankelijk Diemen largely agrees with the plans, but has major objections to the additional conditions. The municipality wants to complete
the move, sell all 60 social housing units to a housing corporation.
This would mean that the 30 houses would be rented through regional allocation, again putting Diemen’s young people and starters at a disadvantage.
No guarantees for Diemen housing seekers
In case of sale to a housing corporation, not the municipality, but the region will decide who will get these social housing units. Diemen youth who are forced to live at home and starting families from Diemen are again put at a disadvantage. In addition, nine three-room apartments will be reserved for status holders with family members who come back home, without firm guarantees that Diemen house hunters will get a fair chance.
Onafhankelijk Diemen believes that the municipality should retain ownership and remain in control of the allocation. “We are not building for the region, but for Diemen. First address the housing shortage among Diemen’s young people and starters.
Financially feasible without a sale
The financial coverage of the move is feasible without a sale.
If the houses have a lifespan of 25 years, the municipality would have to set aside about €271 a month per house for relocation costs.
With rental income, interest, maintenance and ground lease, this is perfectly feasible without relinquishing ownership.
Diemen is not a rental company or land lord
A counter-argument from the coalition: “The municipality is not a rental company.” Yet the municipality also rents out properties such as De Schakel, De Omval, ‘t Kruidvat, the Noorderlicht and all the sports halls.Why is the mayor’s official residence not sold to a housing corporation?
Why does the municipality want to give up its grip on this social flex housing?
According to Onafhankelijk Diemen, this sale is the easiest way, whereby Diemen house hunters will once again miss the boat.
Onafhankelijk Diemen votes against
Without cast-iron guarantees that these houses will be exclusively available for Diemen youth and starters, Onafhankelijk Diemen cannot agree to this additional proposal to sell.
“This is a discriminatory allocation at the expense of Diemen residents.
We call on the municipality to take responsibility and not relinquish control of these social flex housing units.