Quality policy and quality measurement methods for social housing in the Netherlands and England

There are differences in quality between the social housing stock in the Netherlands and England. The most important explanation is that quality and quality backlog is defined in different ways (Vijverberg and Jones, 2005). We continue our search for explanations by studying legislation on quality on different governmental levels and the way quality is measured in both countries. After considering the quality regulations laid down by central government for the social housing stock in both countries, we go on to study the specific supplementary requirements local authorities are empowered to set and the agreements and performance contracts concluded between the authorities and the social sector. This article also deals with the content of and methods used for quality measurement in both countries. There are differences in measurements and frames of reference in both countries. The article concludes with conclusions and recommendations. The Netherlands can learn from England on certain points, and vice versa.