Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ghent has taken over a house vacant for 21 years for the first time under social management. Alderman Filip Watteeuw confirmed it’s now renovated into a sustainable home and will be rented socially.
As VRT News reported, for the first time, the city of Ghent has taken over the management of a vacant private house. The building had stood empty for 21 years. Under the system of social management, the city is allowed to intervene when a home is left unused for too long.
The property has now been renovated and turned into a sustainable dwelling. It will be offered on the social rental market. Alderman Filip Watteeuw said the city stepped in because the owner failed to act. He explained that the rent paid by tenants will be used to cover the cost of the renovation.
What is Ghent doing with long-vacant houses?
The management period will last at least 9 years and may continue longer if needed. During that time, the owner cannot sell the property. Watteeuw stressed that the city does not spend money to make a loss and that the model is set up as a zero-sum system. By doing so, Ghent tackles vacancy while also adding homes to the rental market.
Ghent reports that several requests for social management of vacant homes are still being processed. The city launched the measure 2 years ago after drawing up a list of 200 properties that remained empty. Despite repeated talks with the owners, no action was taken to renovate, rent, or sell the buildings. At that time, city officials said social management should act as a last resort.
“Although we must also be honest and say that this won’t solve the housing crisis. The city will be able to offer some housing through this route. Above all, it sends an important message: it’s unacceptable for houses to remain empty for years while so many families search for a home in vain. That’s actually unacceptable. Vacancy doesn’t have to be the end of the road,”
Ghent says.
The system of social management for abandoned houses was introduced in Flanders in 2014, giving cities the power to take over homes left vacant for many years. Ghent adopted the measure in 2022, after a rising demand for housing and a list of about 200 empty properties whose owners refused to act. Other cities had already used the rule earlier, with Antwerp applying it in 2017 and Leuven in 2019. Ghent has now carried out its first case in 2025.
