IVBN: Mid-range rentals, the social key to our housing sector

March 6, 2026

_{This column was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

Mid-range rentals are not a luxury, but a necessity. This segment represents affordable housing, forms a crucial link for mobility, and above all provides housing for people with middle incomes. This is especially true for key workers, the vital professional groups that keep our society running.

By Judith Norbart, Director, IVBN

For many middle-income households, mid-range rentals are the ideal solution. They earn too much for social housing and too little to buy. It offers flexibility for first-time buyers, separated households, expats and older people who want to move on. Without this segment, not only does the housing market stagnate, but opportunities for people are also lost. Because if you can't find a suitable home, you can't move for work, you can't live independently after a divorce, and you can't start over in a place where opportunities await.

The urgency

The demand for mid-range rentals is enormous. Projects are often oversubscribed by a factor of thirty when they first go on the market. By 2039, at least 150,000 mid-range rental homes will need to be added to solve the shortage. That requires political choices, especially now.

Mid-range rentals directly affect affordability, quality of life and vital professions. They contribute to mixed neighbourhoods and social cohesion, and prevent one-sided neighbourhoods. In addition, affordable rent is crucial for labour mobility. Without housing close to work, people are less likely to accept a job. This increases staff shortages and slows economic growth. Mid-range rents are therefore not only a housing solution, but also a prerequisite for a vital economy and liveable cities.

Priority for key professions

Healthcare workers, teaching staff and police officers keep our cities running. Yet they are often at the back of the queue when it comes to housing, even though they are often dependent on housing close to their work. Municipalities can use housing regulations to steer towards a fair distribution of housing and combat the unbalanced and unfair effects of scarcity. Within these rules, they may give priority to house hunters in vital professions. Some local authorities are already actively pursuing this policy. Pension funds are also increasingly applying it. They show that this is not a favour, but a social choice. Without affordable housing for healthcare workers, teachers and police officers, not only the housing market but also healthcare, education and security will come under pressure.

Investing in the future and trust

Large area developments require parties that can invest on a long-term basis and at scale. Without long-term investments, increasing the affordable supply will simply not get off the ground. In practice, it is often professional long-term investors who can offer continuity and scale with their investments, thereby giving an important boost to the mid-rent sector. In many projects, they are also increasingly working with shared outdoor spaces, meeting places and other facilities that enhance the social quality of neighbourhoods. Not as a luxury, but because this is part of a future-proof living environment.

But these ambitions will not be realised automatically. They require a clear place for mid-range rentals in municipal planning. And they also require an awareness that the investment climate is fragile. That is why (national) action is needed, starting with lower tax thresholds. Without these steps, good intentions will remain just that, while the task at hand is urgent.

After all, mid-range rentals are more than just a segment of the housing market. They are a key social factor: for mobility, affordability and vital professions. For cities that remain liveable and an economy that keeps moving. It is time to make choices that go beyond today, in favour of a housing market that will continue to offer opportunities in the future.

Read the original column in Financial Investigator magazine