New web dossier helps combat real estate crime

Real estate plays a key facilitating role in undermining crime. To combat the criminal use of real estate, public bodies such as notaries and private parties can take measures. The new real estate crime web dossier from the Centre for Crime Prevention and Safety (CCV) outlines what these bodies can do to prevent, recognize, and address criminal interference.

A storage unit full of illegal fireworks, a large inventory of weapons in a home, or a storage of stolen goods in a business premises. Real estate is a key link in criminals' business processes. Buying and selling real estate is also often associated with money laundering.

Various parties highlighted
Real estate crime affects many different parties. The online dossier explains how property managers, brokers, municipalities, institutional investors, notaries, private property owners, and housing associations can specifically address real estate crime, their role in combating it, and the measures they can take. It also outlines what they can do together to combat the criminal use of real estate.

Screening options
One of the most important measures to prevent criminal use of real estate is pre-screening potential new tenants. The real estate crime web dossier therefore focuses heavily on this. It covers screening options for both residential and commercial rentals. The dossier also includes several tips for drafting lease agreements.

Information made available nationwide
In addition, many information and awareness initiatives regarding the criminal use of real estate already exist at the local, regional, and national levels. However, not all stakeholders were aware of these initiatives. The real estate crime web dossier provides access to these initiatives at the national level, making the information accessible to both private and public stakeholders. The web dossier also contains more background information, such as research reports, webinars, and podcasts.

Cooperation
This web dossier was created in collaboration with VBO, Aedes, VastgoedBelang, the Association of Institutional Real Estate Investors Netherlands (IVBN), the Royal Dutch Association of Civil-Law Notaries (KNB), the police, Motus, the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the City of Amsterdam, and the Ministry of Justice and Security. The CCV, together with these parties, ensures that the web dossier is and remains up-to-date and provides added value to anyone who wants to recognize, prevent, and address real estate crime.