Flanders is facing a paradox in its social housing system. While the number of people waiting for a social home has reached an all-time high, more than 8,000 social housing units stood empty

in 2023. That’s nearly four times the number reported the previous year, according to Het Nieuwsblad.

Data from Initia Vlaanderen, the region’s knowledge centre for social housing, reveals that 8,090 units were vacant last year—up from just over 2,100 in 2022. Official figures for 2024 are not yet available, but experts in the sector say the situation hasn’t improved.

The main culprit, according to Initia Vlaanderen, is the malfunctioning Central Registration Register (CRR). Introduced to streamline the application process and unify local databases, the CRR was expected to simplify social housing registrations. However, even after going live in early 2024, the system still suffers from severe technical issues. Many housing associations and social workers report being unable to access the platform, which has effectively stalled the allocation process.

Complicating matters further is the large-scale merger of housing companies initiated by then-Housing Minister Matthias Diependaele, now Flemish Minister-President. This restructuring, while intended to improve efficiency, has instead added new layers of complexity.

Meanwhile, the demand for social housing continues to soar. Nearly 200,000 people are currently on the waiting list in Flanders—a record-breaking figure.

Flemish Housing Minister Melissa Depraetere has acknowledged the problem and promised action. “We are working intensively to reduce vacancy rates,” she said. “That means speeding up both the allocation process and the renovation of empty units so they can return to use as quickly as possible.”