What WoonST does

WoonST is a Belgian social housing company (woonmaatschappij) founded in 2023 to serve the municipalities of Sint-Niklaas and Temse in East Flanders. The organization was established under Flemish social housing reform, succeeding prior local housing entities, and operates with governance oversight from municipal and provincial governments through a 15-member board of directors. It manages approximately 3,600 social housing units with a team of around 65-70 employees distributed across technical, social, administrative, and financial functions, supported by three physical offices (two in Sint-Niklaas and one in Temse). WoonST also processes social loan applications through the Vlaams Woningfonds and is currently developing new social homeownership stock through the Clementwijk and Sparrenhofstraat construction projects.

The company's revenue model is built on three pillars: recurring rental income from social housing units (priced on a regulated, income-based formula), managed-services income from administering Vlaams Woningfonds social loans, and one-time revenue from the sale of newly constructed social purchase homes, supplemented by private market rental income from properties registered by landlords through the 'Ik wil verhuren' program. Pricing is entirely regulated under Flemish housing law, with rent deposits capped at €1,240, placement reports at €40, and purchase home deposits at €4,500. The customer base is structurally long-tail, serving thousands of low-income households across the two municipalities.

On the technology side, WoonST runs conventional digital services rather than a technology platform business. Core systems include integration with the regional CIR (Centraal Inschrijvingsregister) centralized registration system via itsme/eID, Gashnet software for housing allocation management, an online maintenance request portal, a waitlist position lookup tool, and a content layer supporting the Hoplr neighborhood platform and digital channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, tenant magazine). No proprietary AI/ML capability, mobile application, or API platform is disclosed in the input data. The company's competitive position rests on its statutory designation as a woonmaatschappij, which grants exclusive access to Flemish social housing subsidies, the Vlaams Woningfonds loan channel, and CIR-mandated housing candidate flow that private landlords and developers cannot access.

Name

WoonST

Legal name

WoonST

Website

https://woonst.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

WoonST is a Flemish woonmaatschappij serving Sint-Niklaas and Temse that manages approximately 3,600 social housing units, offers income-based rentals, administers social loans via the Vlaams Woningfonds, develops social purchase homes, and runs a landlord program for private property owners, with about 65-70 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sint-niklaas

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Social Housing Rentals: Rental income from approximately 3,600 social housing units in Sint-Niklaas and Temse. Rent is calculated based on tenant income and family composition.
2. Social Lending: Interest income from social loans provided through the Vlaams Woningfonds (Flemish Housing Fund) for home purchases and renovations.
3. Social Home Sales: Revenue from sale of newly constructed social purchase homes (Clementwijk, Sparrenhofstraat projects)
4. Private Market Rentals: Income from renting private market properties to social housing tenants

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WoonST is a publicly designated social housing company (woonmaatschappij) serving Sint-Niklaas and Temse in Belgium. It manages approximately 3,600 social housing units, offers income-based rental housing to eligible candidates, develops and sells social homeownership properties, and provides social loans through the Vlaams Woningfonds for home purchases and renovations. The organization also operates a landlord-onboarding program that lets private property owners rent their homes through WoonST with guaranteed rent payments.

Product overview

WoonST is a social housing company (woonmaatschappij) serving Sint-Niklaas and Temse in Belgium, managing approximately 3,600 housing units. The organization operates as a unified platform offering four interconnected services: social rental housing for candidates meeting income and residency requirements, Vlaamse Woonlening (social loans) through the Vlaams Woningfonds for home purchases and renovations, social homeownership properties developed through construction projects like Clementwijk, and a landlord services program enabling private property owners to participate in social renting. Supporting these core offerings are digital services including an online maintenance reporting system, waitlist consultation tool, and community programs under the WoonSTerk Samen initiative, as well as the WoonST in de Wijk neighborhood outreach service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sociale Huurwoningen (Social Rental Housing) Rental of approximately 3,600 social housing units in Sint-Niklaas and Temse to eligible candidates based on income, family composition, and residency criteria. Rent is calculated under Flemish social housing regulations.
• Vlaamse Woonlening (Social Loans) Social loans processed and managed on behalf of the Vlaams Woningfonds (Flemish Housing Fund), financing home purchases and renovations at reduced interest rates for low-income applicants meeting eligibility criteria.
• Sociale Koopwoningen (Social Homeownership) Development and sale of social homeownership properties at reduced prices with favorable VAT rates, including new construction projects such as Clementwijk and Sparrenhofstraat in Sint-Niklaas.
• Sociale Verhuur voor Verhuurders (Landlord Social Rental Service) Service enabling private property owners to rent their homes through WoonST's social housing program, providing guaranteed monthly rent payments, administrative handling, property maintenance, and fiscal advantages including reduced registration duties and renovation premiums.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 3,600 housing units managed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• EBMminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 February 2026Smoke detector installation contractor from Oostakker. Installing new smoke detectors in all WoonST properties starting March 9, 2026.
• MIWAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Waste management partnership for community education. Jointly organizes educational activities around waste sorting and proper disposal, including a games afternoon about waste for families in the Sompershoek neighborhood.
• DégagéminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2024Car sharing partnership for Paterssite project in Sint-Niklaas. Dégagé manages a car sharing service where residents can access shared vehicles. Four parking spaces designated for car sharing at the Paterssite, with information sessions organized for new residents. Partnership enables sustainable mobility options for tenants.
• HoplrminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital neighborhood platform partnership. WoonST is available on the closed neighborhood website Hoplr, which connects neighbors with each other and with social organizations. Neighborhood code 597DL for WoonST group.
• Blaf architectenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArchitecture firm for Clementwijk project in Sint-Niklaas. Designing 17 social purchase homes and 4 social purchase apartments in the Londenstraat, Dublinstraat and Helsinkiplein.
• Recon BouwminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstruction contractor for Clementwijk project. Building 17 social purchase homes and 4 apartments starting January 27, 2025, with 500 calendar days execution period.
• Bouwonderneming DammanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstruction contractor for Sparrenhofstraat project in Sint-Niklaas. Building 4 social purchase homes starting May 19, 2025, with 400 calendar days execution period.
• City of Sint-NiklaascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership for neighborhood development. Collaboration on youth meeting place in Reynaertpark, community garden, and various community programs. City involvement in housing projects and neighborhood initiatives.
• Vlaams Woningfonds (VWF)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlemish Housing Fund partnership for social loans. WoonST processes and manages social loan applications on behalf of VWF, including simulations, applications, and follow-up. VWF provides the loan products with favorable conditions for low-income households.
• Wonen in VlaanderencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Flemish housing authority for social housing regulations, quality standards, and data exchange. Protocols established for data sharing including Aster, CIR, and WiV protocols.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Stadgenoot: Amsterdam-based Dutch social housing corporation with a regulated affordable rental mandate comparable to WoonST's woonmaatschappij role, though operating across the Dutch border.
• Mitros: Dutch social housing corporation managing ~30,000 units in Utrecht; similar mission and tenant base as WoonST but materially larger and operating under the Dutch regulatory framework.
• Eigen Haard: Large Dutch social housing corporation in the Amsterdam metropolitan area; comparable affordable rental mandate and regulated pricing, but serving a different national market.
• De Woonplaats: Dutch social housing corporation (woningcorporatie) serving Twente; comparable non-profit, government-supervised rental model but operating under Dutch rather than Flemish regulation.

Direct peers

• WoninGent: One of the largest social housing companies (woonmaatschappij) in Flanders, operating in Gent with a comparable portfolio of social rental, sale, and loan services under the same Flemish regulatory framework as WoonST.
• Woonpunt Mechelen: Regional Flemish woonmaatschappij serving the Mechelen area; offers the same social rental, ownership, and loan products as WoonST under the same Flemish Housing Code.
• Wonen Limburg: Flemish social housing company operating across the Limburg province with social rental, sale, and loan offerings; same regulatory regime and three-pillar service model as WoonST.
• Woonmaatschappij Vlaamse Ardennen: Regional Flemish woonmaatschappij covering the Vlaamse Ardennen; comparable scale, mandate, and product offering to WoonST under shared Flemish regulation.
• Antwerps Bouwbedrijf voor Coöperatief Wonen (ABC): Social housing cooperative in the Antwerpen region providing rental and ownership housing for low- and middle-income households under Flemish social housing rules; comparable customer base and service mix.
• Volkswoning Mechelen: Flemish social housing company focused on the Mechelen region; directly comparable service mix (social rent, sale, loans) and governance structure to WoonST.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/woonSTwoonmaatschappij
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woonmaatschappijwoonst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WoonST