The Belgian Workers Party, PVDA, staged a protest at the Groenplaats in central Antwerp on Tuesday afternoon against what the far-left party describes as the city’s housing crisis.
PVDA aims to make living in the city more affordable and has proposed two key measures ahead of the municipal elections: implementing a rent cap and mandating that one-third of new building projects consist of social housing and another third of affordable housing.
The party has been gaining momentum in Antwerp and hopes to form a left-wing majority with Groen and Vooruit after 13 October. Making housing affordable would be one of their top priorities, according to lead candidate Jos D’Haese.
“Housing is a significant issue in the city, often one of the main concerns of the people we meet on the streets,” D’Haese said. “Renting a small apartment in the city centre costs nearly €1,000, and purchase prices have also soared. There must be active policies to make housing affordable, rather than allowing developers to maximise their profits.”
PVDA believes the city council should intervene in the housing market without deterring the private sector. “We want to require developers to allocate two-thirds of their projects to social and affordable housing,” D’Haese explained.
“Social housing would be purchased by social housing associations, ensuring a guaranteed sale," the PDVA candidate added. "Affordable housing can also be profitable. Developers would still be able to sell the remaining third at market rates, allowing them to make a profit.”
The party also argues that a rent cap is possible in Brussels. “Many other cities and municipalities are already doing this,” said D’Haese. “Paying €800 per month for a 30-square-metre studio is unacceptable; we need to bring this under control.”
