The Housing Dimension of Welfare Reform - the ICCR

of payment, disturbance of domestic peace or misuse of the apartment
does not require a period of notice. It does, however, entail juridical
procedure of eviction that may last as long as one year.
Measures to avoid evictions based on tenants’ default of payment are
implemented in many countries. The legal framework of preventive
action includes a broad range of social assistance to tenants threatened by
the loss of a home. Measures range from assumption of rent arrears and
counselling to transitional measures such as stay of eviction or
postponement of enforcement of court orders to evict.
More generally, the trend towards increased liberalisation of housing
markets, a blurring of borders between public and private sectors and the
subsequent dynamics of market forces have made affordability an issue.
Additional housing benefits have been established in countries where rent
controls do not succeed to ensure affordability (e.g. in Italy). In other
countries (Belgium, Ireland) such funds are not earmarked to support
housing costs but are channelled through the more general social
protection schemes. In Denmark, private rentals are controlled to the
extent that they do not reflect market value which lowers access barriers.
Looking at the countries studied in-depth by the EUROHOME-IMPACT
project, the following can be noted:
In Denmark a large part of private rentals (85 per cent) are regulated at
cost level and do not reflect market prices. This, however, applies only to
dwellings rented up to 1991. Tenants concluding leases thereafter cannot
draw on rent control legislation. Two types of housing benefits aimed at
tenants, regardless whether they reside in public or private rentals, are
available to pensioners (rent allowance) and non-pensioners (rent
subsidy) respectively. Eligibility depends on household income, housing
expenditure and household size. 21 per cent of households received such
individual housing benefits in 1998. These are often a major part of the
household income: they amount, on average, to 50 per cent of the rent.
In Austria private tenants may access public funds for improvement and
renovation activities. If they are eligible they can furthermore apply for
means-tested allowances (as can owners and tenants in social housing).
The rent control system applicable to most of the private sector is
complicated and frequently subject to law amendments but, overall, it
does not tend to push rent amounts below market value.
In Germany, private rentals are neither completely subject to market
forces nor are they strictly regulated. Rents may be increased but for
existing contracts not above 20 per cent within three years. Tenants of
both the private and social sector can apply for means-tested allowances.
EUROHOME-IMPACT FINAL REPORT 23