EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Antwerp

Antwerp - Renovation contracts

Introduction

The renovation contracts project is part of an integrated approach for re-evaluating the Schipperskwartier, i.e., the Antwerp prostitution area. The renovation contracts were first used as a housing policy instrument in 2004. Via the renovation contracts, the City of course also encourages legal persons who are prepared to renovate their premises and let them at a lower price. The City hereby plays a governing role (including the selection of possible premises) and assumes some of the costs. The City wishes to enforce the municipal policy on vacant and dilapidating properties via this initiative. Bearing in mind the broad target public, this will also lead to a wider offer of quality rental accommodation and make it easier for young persons and families on low and medium incomes to acquire their own homes.

Problem

The Schipperskwartier is an area in transition. The disappearance of the trading function is noticeable together with a transition towards housing. The ownership structure has also seen a transition from initially mainly corrupt trading establishments to new owners. Some streets in the city have a high percentage of vacant and neglected properties. The neighbourhood nevertheless has a lot of pluses for a residential area: the vicinity of the city centre, easy access, a neglected but attractive heritage, etc. The City took the initiative itself as spontaneous initiatives were not really forthcoming.

Description

As well as a renewal process and increasing the quality of buildings, the project also strives towards supporting responsible owners, a proactive instrument in the quality policy on private rental accommodation, more social jobs, an improved street scene, a functional switch from trade to housing, a unique society and integration project for the neighbourhood and a mixed high-quality housing project. A hundred properties should be renovated via these contracts in the course of the 2005-2007 multi-year programme.

Approach

A renovation contract includes an agreement between the City and an owner whereby the City controls the property for safety and quality, draws up the specifications and makes an offer, follows up, controls and moreover financially supports the work (by paying for part of the investments). In return, the owner is obliged to let the property at a pre-agreed social rental price for a period of at least nine years or to reside it in himself and not to sell the property within a pre-agreed period.

Each case follows a standard procedure whereby the owner in any case has two years to complete the work counting from the approval of the application and concluding the contract.

Contact info

Antwerp City Housing Service
11-23 Van Immerseelstraat
2018 Antwerp
Fons Famaey, tel. 0032 3222 36 11

Project start date

Links

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords