The Housing Committee

The Housing Committee addresses matters related to e.g. housing, buildings and urban renewal.

Større

Members

Tasks and responsibilities

The Housing Committee has a very broad agenda. Examples include the Building Act and Building Regulations, social housing, private letting, cooperative housing associations, owner-occupied apartments, urban renewal and disadvantaged housing areas.

The committee closely monitors governmental work in these spheres.

Its tasks and responsibilities can be subdivided into two primary areas:

handling of Bills and proposals within the committee’s remit
ongoing parliamentary scrutiny within the housing policy spheres, including monitoring the Government’s observance of relevant laws passed by the Danish Parliament

Parliamentary scrutiny of how the Government conducts and administers building and housing policies is often the Housing Committee’s primary activity. In practice, parliamentary scrutiny is exercised through the standing committee members’ tabling questions to the minister, either as Section 20 questions (verbal or in writing), questions in committee, questions in consultation or as enquiries.

The Government is responsible for applying policy within the remit of the committee on the basis of the legislation enacted by Parliament. These can be specific acts within the committee’s specialist area and grants under the Finance Act. As a rule, legislation passed in the Danish Parliament pertaining to a sphere within the Housing Committee’s remit is based on a political compromise.

Specialist ministry

The committee’s specialist ministry is the Ministry for Social Affairs, Housing and Senior Citizens.

In addition to the central department near Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, the ministry consists of a number of authorities and enterprises. For housing, these include the Danish Authority of Social Services and Housing and Center for Boligsocial Udvikling (CFBU).

Organisations

Many organisations are interested in this field – in particular, industry organisations, public groups, academic institutions and individual businesses.

Organisations, businesses and members of the public are welcome to contact or make an appointment for an audience if they wish to notify the committee of a topic within its remit.

Study trips

Study trips at home and abroad are a source of knowledge and inspiration for members of the committee. A study trip can last from one day to just under one week, with such purposes as giving the committee a first-hand impression of how other countries tackle some of the problems faced in Denmark, or a better understanding of local or regional problems within Denmark.

The committee can also send small delegations of its members abroad to gain particular insight into an area of interest, or to take part in relevant conferences.