Two Amsterdam tenants had great success in reporting their landlord to the Huurcommissie rent tribunal for charging them exorbitant rent. The Huurcommissie ordered the landlord to lower the rent for a small, leaky, drafty room on Keizersgracht from 1,950 euros to temporarily 95 euros per month. The rent for another room in the same building was lowered from 1,200 euros to temporarily 93 euros.
Because housing is basically extortion in big European cities. It’s like there’s a global conspiracy to stop building new housing and lower interest rates so real estate value skyrocket.
Yeah, zoning laws mostly exist to keep property prices up by restricting supply – which mainly benefits the already well-off.