The Dutch housing ministry is investigating whether banks are restricting the provision of mortgages to people in low-income neighbourhoods.

Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant says that since the start of the economic crisis it has become difficult to obtain a mortgage to purchase property in precisely those areas that are the target of government regeneration policy.

Estate agents and solicitors claim that finance for real estate in such low-income areas is consistently being refused. However, it remains unclear whether the mortgage requests are being denied on the grounds of income or property location.

Vic van Heeswijk, a Rotterdam solicitor, told de Volkskrant that "Banks are only willing to approve safe mortgages. Problem neighbourhoods and risky buyers are simply being disqualified. Although their exclusion is not an official policy, that is what their strategy boils down to."

The housing ministry wants to know whether there is any truth in the claims and says banks should only be allowed to consider people's incomes, not their post codes.

Market leader Rabobank responded that it has no policy to withhold mortgages for property in particular areas. Other banks also deny the accusations.