Alderman Bouke Velzen visits preserved model home Zalkerbos

The apartment consists of 309 owner-occupied and rented homes. Housing corporation Vidomes owns the rental homes and is therefore a member of the VvE. By taking various measures, all these homes are now future-proofed. Think of placing HR++ glass, insulating the walls, cavity walls and roof, a CO2-controlled ventilation system and renovating the elevators. This increases comfort and makes the homes healthier, while limiting energy consumption. This contributes to affordable housing for the tenants of Vidomes. Also, the exterior of the flat will be refurbished, providing a better appearance.

Support from municipality

Municipality of Zoetermeer supports VvEs who want to make themselves more sustainable. They can seek free advice from the VvE counter. In addition, subsidies are available for process support. Experience shows that making VvEs sustainable is a tough and time-consuming process. Hence professional guidance is available.

People's Housing Fund

To improve the livability and safety in the Bossenbuurt, the municipality of Zoetermeer has received a sum of 15.7 million euros from the Public Housing Fund of the central government. Healthy, comfortable and affordable housing is the basis of a livable neighborhood. The city council has yet to decide on how to spend the fund and additional funding. It is planned that VvEs in the Bossen neighborhood will be able to apply for additional subsidies to make their homes more sustainable in early 2025.

Alderman Velzen: "With the help of a subsidy from the Public Housing Fund, the municipality will soon be able to give homeowners in the Bossenbuurt a substantial boost. Energy-saving measures will improve the livability of the homes. This prevents energy poverty and contributes to subsistence security for the most vulnerable households in Zoetermeer. A model home is really tangible, you feel and see that these will soon be more comfortable homes. Great that the board of VvE Zalkerbos and Vidomes together managed to pull this off!"

Alderman Ter Laak (district alderman Meerzicht) congratulates the VvE Zalkerbos on the start of the preservation of their complex. "With the money from the Public Housing Fund, we hope that more VvEs in the Bossenbuurt will soon follow suit. In this way, together we can breathe new life into a typical reconstruction neighborhood that is characteristic of a New Town like Zoetermeer."

Frank Meijer, project developer Vidomes: "When the VvE board took the initiative to investigate sustainability we were immediately enthusiastic. The insulation standard from the building year 1973 no longer meets the current standards and expectations of our tenants. We saw this reflected in the satisfaction in this area in our periodic housing experience survey. After 3 years of intensive cooperation with VvE board, we are proud that as a member of VvE Zalkerbos we can give the starting signal for the preservation of this apartment in the Bossenbuurt."