Territorial Review Copenhagen - Region Hovedstaden

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literature and case law that municipalities are prevented from increasing
the housing supply without having a legal basis.
29 A recent proposal called for municipal plots to be sold at a reduced price,
but the bill was rejected. The bill reference is ―2007-08, 2. samling - B 53
(oversigt): Forslag til folketingsbeslutning om at give kommunerne
mulighed for at gennmeføre en aktiv boligpolitik, der kan sikre boliger til
grupper med lav- og mellemindkomster‖ (www.folketinget.dk). The City
of Copenhagen also requested the State Administration for the Capital
Region and the Ministry of the Interior to grant permission for the sale of
municipal plots with restrictions on the right of disposal in order to
obtain, for example, housing for middle-income residents.
30 The City of Copenhagen (2008) explains, ―In 1999, a co-operative
dwelling of 85 m² located in Copenhagen cost approximately
DKK 160 000. Calculations show that a corresponding co-operative
dwelling would today cost approximately DKK 980 000. Prices of cooperative
dwellings have consequently nearly quintupled during this
period. This means that a family without private means will have a total
monthly housing cost of approximately DKK 9 500.‖
31 If a developer sells six or more apartments (or 13 if there is a commercial
area in the building), the building must first be offered to its tenants. The
price is regulated and often below market.
32 In 2006, the City Council concluded a far-reaching agreement with the
Federation of Non-Profit Housing Associations in Denmark regarding
new letting rules for social housing. Among other things, the new rules
mean that people in work or education now have a better chance of
obtaining social housing. In addition, job squads have been employed to
contact people on cash benefits in vulnerable neighbourhoods and offer
them jobs or labour market integration. Financial provision has also been
made under the auspices of Landsbyggefonden (the National Fund of
Housing Associations) for social and preventive initiatives on social
housing estates where major problems of an economic, social or other
nature have been identified.
33 For additional material on this report, see:
www.social.dk/lovgivning/lovforslag/index.aspx?id=c5d6d8bc-1b51-
4848-8fc0-5985efae48e5.
34 Copenhagen‘s urban regeneration budget covers neighbourhood renewal
programmes, refurbishment of buildings, and support for paying
mortgages on loans taken out in buildings that have been renewed. The
budget does not cover social projects often carried out in these areas, such
as integration and the support of entrepreneurship.