Division of living space

For the allocation of social rental housing, all municipalities, private landlords and social landlords (housing corporations) within the Haaglanden region apply the same rules. These rules are laid down in the regionally aligned Housing Ordinance 2019.

Selection based on enrollment duration

Your accumulated duration of registration is the selection criterion. The longer your registration duration, the more chance you have of qualifying for housing from a housing corporation. Probably your first search attempt will not immediately lead to success. Keep in mind that - depending on the type of housing chosen - the required registration period can be up to several years. If you leave an independent rental property in the region when you move, your length of residence will also count. However, there is a maximum of 5 years.

Priority Statement

A house seeker may qualify for a priority declaration in certain cases. Namely if there are social or medical reasons, because of financial circumstances or because the householder is a candidate for restructuring. If the house seeker in question actually has a priority declaration, this will give him/her priority over all other house seekers. You can apply for a priority declaration at housing association De Goede Woning. More information about the entire procedure such as filling out an online questionnaire to check whether you might qualify can be found at Social rental housing, declaration of urgency.

Local customization

Each year, the housing corporations rent out a maximum of 25 percent of the social housing units that become available on the basis of what is known as "local customization. Local customization is intended for house seekers from Zoetermeer who belong to certain established categories. They are given priority over other house seekers with the exception of the above mentioned house seekers with a priority declaration. Households with a priority declaration are therefore always given first consideration. When a house seeker qualifies for local customization, this is automatically taken into account in Woonnet Haaglanden. Manual registration is therefore not possible. As long as the information provided on Woonnet Haaglanden is correct, local customization will be processed in the correct manner.

The following categories of Zoetermeer housing seekers are eligible for local customization:

• Flowers from a low-cost housing corporation (with a rent (after adjustment) below €442.46; price level 2021) to a non- single-family home.
• Young people under the age of 23 can be given priority for a vacant home below the quality discount threshold (€442.46; price level 2021).
• Transitioners from a large social rental home (80^m2 and above and below the rent limit) to a small social rental home (non-family housing smaller than 80^m2 below the rent limit).
• Group living. The residents of a housing group are often allowed to decide who can occupy a vacant rental property. Allocations are covered by local customization.
• Flow-through broker. The flow-through broker/senior broker may use local customization to move empty nesters and seniors (55 years of age or older), who are not living appropriately in their current home, to a suitable home within neighborhood, street or complex.
• New construction social housing. Corporations may allocate new construction housing to further categories of local housing seekers determined in accordance with board of mayor and aldermen .

Regional customization

When a house seeker qualifies for regional customization, this is automatically taken into account in Woonnet Haaglanden. Manual registration is therefore not possible. As long as the information provided on Woonnet Haaglanden is correct, local customization will be processed correctly.

Regional customization is at least in the case of:

• Large families who move on within the region and leave a corporation housing unit may be given priority consideration for housing units equal to or larger than 80^{square meters of} living area.
• Households that leave a housing association property with a living area greater or equal to 65^{square meters} in the case of single-family homes and greater or equal to 80^{square meters} for other housing types may be given priority consideration for housing units smaller than 80^{square meters} that are not characterized as single-family homes.
• Transitioners within the region who leave a scarce large corporation housing unit, which is labeled for a larger household, may be directly mediated, up to a maximum of 5% of the vacant supply, to a "non single-family home" smaller than 80^m2 and a rent up to and including the rent limit that is labeled for a smaller appropriate household.

Allocation order

Based on the foregoing, the allocation order of social housing units of the housing associations is as follows:

1. social, medical, financial and restructuring citizens (these are housing seekers whose current home is being demolished)
2. Home seekers covered by local custom
3. housing seekers covered by regional custom
4. all other housing seekers based on their length of residence

First responder

Housing that is less scarce or not covered by the ordinance, such as free sector housing, may also be offered on a first responder basis.

You can adjust your search criteria on this specific allocation basis. The first respondent who meets the conditions will be offered the house. It is not mandatory to be registered as a house seeker with Woonnet Haaglanden to respond to these houses.

Lottery houses

If you have only been registered for a short time and you still want a chance to get a home, the best thing you can do is apply for a lottery home. These homes are raffled off by the housing corporations. So everyone has an equal chance. They are usually small homes that are especially suitable for first-time buyers.

Learn more

The Zoetermeer housing corporations (De Goede Woning, Stedelink (formerly Vestia) and Vidomes) can provide you with tailored information about your eligibility for (rental) housing in Zoetermeer or elsewhere in the Haaglanden region. There is also a clear and detailed explanation on Woonnet Haaglanden and you can pick up the free Woonwijzer (information brochure) at one of the housing corporations. The addresses of the housing corporations can be found on the page Useful addresses or can be found under www.dgw.nl, www.stedelink.nl and www.vidomes.nl.