ABSTRACT
While social housing companies became the major providers of new rented housing in post-war period, nearly three-quarters of all new housing was provided through private building. After war, government subsidies were available to private landlords to build new housing, but strict rent controls, in place till 1958, provided strong disincentive to invest. In addition, private landlords were not allowed to sell their rented property into owner-occupation, cutting off another form of return. Demolitions also caused some change, although Denmark did not embark on a big slum clearance programme. Firstly, its urban stock was on whole relatively recent, dating from the late nineteenth century onwards. Secondly, the private-rented blocks were in high demand and were popular due to their cheapness and inner location. Thirdly, social housing, while popular with better paid workers because of its high quality, was too dear for poor, insecure newcomers. The relaxation of controls in the private rented sector led to a boom in sales to owner-occupation.
