Housing ambassadors to aid Sluis and its housing market
Author: Daniel Gilmour
An interesting visit to Zeeland by DC Noise allowed the partners to be briefed about a new project to be undertaken in Sluis, a municipality in south west Zeeland. This municipality has a large number of villages who want to maintain their own identity and keep their local services such as schools and sports facilities. This is a challenge due to the shrinking population predicted in this municipality, increase in older population and the large number of houses in the community that require updating.
The project team learned that private housing owned by elderly people is likely to become vacant in the next decade. These houses are often affordable to young people looking to buy their first house. Young people are often put of by the perception of the amount of work these houses require. To encourage young people to take on these houses and stay in the area, a housing ambassador scheme is proposed. The housing ambassador scheme provides advice and financial support to people buying properties that require updating. Professional advice is given on modernisation by ambassadors to build confidence and identify potential of a property. Low interest loans are also available to undertake the work.
This scheme will be launched in 2009, promoted by the local municipality in partnership with local housing brokers. The principle of the scheme is that once contacted by a potential buyer the housing ambassador visits the house with the potential buyer and looks at the possibilities to improve the house and any relevant building regulations. The overall goal of the scheme is to stimulate young people to buy these older houses and bring them up to modern living standards. This meets two goals, improving housing stock and retaining younger people in the area.
I look forward to hearing more about the success of the scheme’s implementation in Bremen in September 2009.
