It is important that existing social housing is managed efficiently and is only reserved for those who really need it. “This term of government I have submitted a proposal to tackle fraud decisively, including by making it possible to check foreign properties of social tenants. In Flanders, such an anti-fraud policy is paying off. Since March 2021, the Flemish government has been facilitating inspections of properties abroad of social tenants through a framework agreement with a research agency. Of the approximately 1,000 property searches carried out to date, approximately half of the cases revealed foreign ownership. Houses and apartments in Turkey and Morocco are by far the most common. In this way, the housing companies have already been able to reclaim almost three million euros from fraudsters!
Tackling fraud is not a priority
Vanden Borre’s proposal, which asked for this ownership research to also be made possible in the capital, was unfortunately voted down by the entire majority. Apparently tackling social fraudsters is not a priority for this Brussels government. In view of the Flemish figures, I once again call on the Brussels government to make a similar ownership survey possible in the capital.
Tags: NVA foreign ownership research Brussels social tenants
