2025 Responsible Housing Finance Summit in Prague

The document presents an overview of the 2025 Responsible Housing Finance Summit held in Prague, organized by Housing Europe in collaboration with the Czech State Fund for Investment Promotion (SFPI). The summit gathered experts from various sectors, including public, cooperative, and social housing, as well as financial institutions and researchers, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in affordable housing across Europe.

The summit emphasized that Europe can deliver affordable homes only through long-term support for existing housing systems and structural backing for emerging ones. Financing is a critical pillar for individuals overwhelmed by housing costs, as many households are spending a disproportionate share of their income on housing. The event highlighted the urgent need for investment frameworks that align with EU values and the necessity for affordable homes.

Marco Corradi, President of Housing Europe, opened the summit by underscoring the pivotal moment for Europe’s housing agenda. He noted the importance of aligning local needs with the expectations of financiers to build partnerships that deliver sustainable housing through renovation, conversion, and new construction.

The summit also saw the launch of a new paper discussing the term “private finance” in social and affordable housing, clarifying that most private capital in this sector is often funneled through publicly governed institutions.

The event gathered various stakeholders, including banks and ministries, to address funding challenges faced by housing providers, particularly as they advance the Renovation Wave and the New European Bauhaus initiatives. The Czech Minister of Regional Development, Petr Kulhánek, discussed how national reforms are unlocking more coherent investment pathways. The demand for funding was reported to be three times higher than available resources, showcasing the scale of need.

Matthew Baldwin from the European Commission's Housing Task Force confirmed that a short, action-oriented EU Affordable Housing Plan would be presented soon. Several instruments were suggested to create a predictable investment environment, including national and regional partnership plans that explicitly include housing.

Daniel Ryšávka, Director of SFPI, highlighted the excessive demand for affordable housing in the Czech Republic and the need for long-term financing. The summit emphasized that fragmented municipalities and limited local capacity pose major hurdles to delivering housing.

The summit concluded with an acknowledgment of the systemic issues affecting housing finance in Europe. Experts stressed that sustainable housing finance involves more than just money; it requires well-regulated housing systems supported by financial instruments tailored to local realities.

The recommendations included the necessity for more coherent investment strategies that align with the unique challenges faced by Mediterranean countries and the importance of involving local communities in decision-making processes.

The next edition of the Responsible Housing Finance Summit is planned for Hungary in 2026, aiming to continue the dialogue on sustainable housing finance across Europe, ensuring that it remains an integral part of the EU's social and economic frameworks.