Amsterdam city council has made a plea to be allowed to house fewer refugees with residency permits because of the acute shortage of housing in the city.

The Volkskrant reports that city officials are concerned about the impact on low income locals. This year Amsterdam is still supposed to house 695 refugees but only 5,500 rent controlled properties are expected to become vacant.

People with medical problems also have priority for rent-controlled property which means ‘ordinary’ families can wait years for a house, housing alderman Laurens Ivens told the paper.

Amsterdam officials are to discuss the issues with provincial and national government.