Tervuren launches 'Live in Your Own Region' to make housing affordable

Tervuren is taking steps to combat rising housing costs with its new 'Wonen in Eigen Streek' (WIES) system, aiming to help residents stay in their community. The municipality, which ranks as the seventh most expensive in Flanders, is partnering with Vlabinvest to co-invest in property purchases.

Under the WIES program, buyers will only pay a portion of the land value at the time of purchase. The municipality and Vlabinvest will cover half of the estimated land value, a contribution that can reach up to 100,000 euros per home or plot. Buyers can then repay this amount over time.

To qualify for a WIES home or plot, prospective buyers must meet specific criteria. They need to have resided in Tervuren for at least five consecutive years within the last decade. Additionally, they must not own any other property and their income must fall within a certain range. A key condition is that the buyer must live in the house for 20 years; failure to do so may result in a penalty, and if the property is sold after five years, the municipality will be reimbursed for its share.

This initiative makes Tervuren the first municipality in the Flemish periphery to implement the Flemish decree 'Wonen in Eigen Streek.' The municipal council is set to vote on the WIES regulations on Thursday evening, marking a potential turning point for housing accessibility in the area.

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We investeren dus mee in de aankoop. Die tussenkomst kan oplopen tot 100.000 euro per woning of kavel. Dat bedrag kan de koper op termijn terugbetalen.