The self-occupancy obligation that the municipality of Houten is implementing is not new. Several municipalities in the province of Utrecht have a similar policy and try to stand up for their own residents. Amersfoort, Baarn, Houten, Nieuwegein, Oudewater, Soest, Utrecht and Vijfheerenlanden included something in their coalition agreement of 2022 about banning pawnbrokers.
The municipality of Utrecht increased the price limit of purchase protection from July this year. There, owner-occupied houses cheaper than 587,000 euros can no longer be rented out directly. The annual adjustment of the price limit ensures that 60 percent of owner-occupied homes in Utrecht continue to fall under the purchase protection.