Flanders, Belgium 

SRAs are non-profit housing institutions that address the housing problems of poor and vulnerable people. In the Belgian context, SRAs have tended to be rooted in homeless services. SRAs are active in all three of Belgium’s regions (Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia). This briefing focuses on Flanders, where SRAs are particularly well established, and presents the way that they have evolved as a social innovation in this context.

SRAs act as mediating agents between private landlords and people in housing need. In short, SRAs lease dwellings in order to sublet them at an affordable rent to tenants with low-incomes. They focus on households who are vulnerable on the housing market and who face specific barriers accessing housing. The basic concept of an SRA is as “splendid as simple”.

An SRA contacts a private landlord and offers to lease their property. If they agree, the SRA provides a tenant and guarantees payment of rent and maintenance of the physical quality of the housing. SRAs negotiate rents and are able to offer lower than market rates because the landlord’s revenue is guaranteed over a long time period (normally 9 years). SRAs also subsidise and carry out renovations in order to incentivise landlords to lease their properties.

The practicalities of letting are transferred from the landlord to the SRA. SRAs select tenants and carry out administrative and management tasks. These include making a property inventory, registration of the rental contract, processing of deposits, collection of rent, fire insurance and the organisation of repairs and maintenance.

Tenant support is also at the heart of the SRA mission. SRAs play a service brokerage role and link to other welfare organisations to provide tenant support services on the basis of need (e.g. addiction services, support with administrative issues etc.).