About us
The action campaign We Refuse the Rent Increase is a campaign built for and by active tenants, volunteers, and activists, who are tired of years of rent increases and who are demanding a multi-year rent freeze, to make and keep housing affordable again. On this page, we will go a little deeper into our working method and action method and what you can do as a refuser of the rent increase to make this action a success.
Read further? Then download our manual which fully describes how to set up a solidarity network locally, which roles can be divided, which activities can be organized throughout the year and more useful tools, documents and links!
Working Method
The action method of We Refuse the Rent Increase is intended to give tenants the tools to enforce a multi-year rent freeze, by making use of the legal right to refuse the rent increase. Tenants can individually refuse the rent increase by following the steps in our Step-by-step plan, but our action is mainly based on the collective organization of tenants in solidarity networks who together refuse the rent increase.
Through self-organization in regional or local solidarity networks of and for tenants who refuse the rent increase, we can reinforce our demands for a multi-year rent freeze for all rents. As an action group, we are practically supported by the Bond Precaire Woonvormen (BPW), an association that has been involved in the collective organization of tenants in solidarity networks for more than 10 years. Together we try to introduce a tradition where tenants make their own demands and reinforce these through direct action: refusing the rent increase. WWDH and BPW are solidarity initiatives and not customer service. Without solidarity between tenants and struggle from below we will get nowhere. Only by signing up on our site, you are not there yet! The intention is for tenants to get to work themselves and to show initiative to refuse the rent increase together with other tenants.
There are a number of possibilities to actively get started with the action method of We Refuse the Rent Increase. We list them below:
Organize a flyer action
Throughout the year, but especially during the last quarter before July 1st, we aim to inform as many people as possible about our action method. A good way to do this is to organize a flyer action in your neighborhood, town, or city. We have free flyers available for this via de Rode Lap. You can of course start flyering alone, but it is much better to organize yourself collectively, for example by going door-to-door with fellow residents, neighbors, associations, or (action) groups. Keep in mind that our promotion is mainly suitable for social housing tenants, so plan your flyer promotion in a part of the district/city where you can reach these tenants best. Would you like extra help or tips for organizing a collective flyer action? You can always contact us through mail.
Collectively organized flyer campaigns are also a good time to draw attention to the Refusal of the Rent Increase in the (local) press. For this we have developed a standard press release that can be adapted to local circumstances. Request this from us via the mail.
Local solidarity networks
We receive applications from tenants from all over the country. When a large group of tenants registers from the same region, we will try to connect these tenants with each other and thus set up a local solidarity network. If you have already organized a collective flyer action before, this is a good starting point for such a solidarity network, so make sure you maintain contact after a flyer action.
We are currently organizing solidarity networks in local app groups, where refusers can seek support from each other and share any questions or concerns. Information evenings, meetings, or flyer actions can also be organized with the help of these app groups. It is desirable that one or more people locally show the initiative to set up and maintain such a solidarity network. We can help with that. Then there are different roles to be divided within a group. Think, for example, of a contact person or press spokesperson.
Have you already signed up for our action and would you like to set up a solidarity network, or join an existing group? contact us. We will connect you to a local contact person.
Card solidarity networks wwdh
Information meetings and webinars
Every month we organize online webinars that you can sign up for via the website sign up form. Here we explain the progression of the action and you can ask questions. However, an online webinar is not accessible to everyone. If you are active in a solidarity network, a possible next step is to organize a local information meeting. In this way, tenants with more capabilities can ensure that all the necessary knowledge also reaches other local participants. Such an information meeting can be held, for example, in a community center or at the office of a tenant's organization. Would you like to get started with a local information meeting? Then again, contact us.
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