More than half of the Netherlands’ local authority areas have no housing options at all for people on moderate incomes, according to research by real estate advisor Colliers.

Some 200,000 households in the Netherlands have too high an income to qualify for social housing with a rent up to €752, but don’t earn enough to buy, and there is a major shortage of property outside the rent-controlled sector, Colliers said.

The problem applies in 188 of the Netherlands 352 local authority areas, the agency said. Six years ago, the shortage of affordable housing was an issue for just 13 councils.

‘In 2015, you could buy a house for around €155,000 if you were on the income edge for social housing,’ said researcher Frank Verwoerd. ‘Now that property would be worth €270,000 but if you are on the income edge, you can spend no more than €185,00.’

National statistics office CBS said last week that the average price of a home in the Netherlands is €419,000. To qualify for social housing, a single person’s income must be no higher than €40,000 a year, or €44,000 for a couple.