Shifting back-changing organisational strategies in Dutch social housing

Since the financial liberalisation from the government in the late 1980s and the 1990s, Dutch housing associations have been very dynamic, embracing both commercial and social activities, becoming increasingly reliant and dependent on market circumstances and undergoing a large number of mergers. In recent years, the Dutch social housing sector has been under increased pressure due to the global financial crisis, increased levels of taxation and the national implementation of EU regulations on ‘Services of General Economic Interest’. It seems likely that factors like these have had an effect on the organisational strategies adopted by housing associations, but the nature and magnitude of these effects are not well known. This paper explores these effects through a survey among Dutch housing associations. The results of the survey were analysed using a social-commercial dimension and a ‘prospector’ – ‘defender’ dimension. Our analysis reveals that housing associations are focusing more on traditional social housing tasks and ‘defending’ strategies, implying some reversal of the developments that had occurred in recent decades.