Context and Origin
The policy study Avoiding Renovictions in European Cities is published by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), a European political foundation supporting progressive policies across the EU. It is authored by Davide Martino, Nuve Yazgan and Francesco Zambonin, researchers with affiliations to universities and think‑tanks in Brussels, Oxford and Paris, respectively. The work was produced in partnership with the Karl Renner Institut, the FES Competence Centre, and several other European organisations, and received financial backing from the European Parliament.
Scope of the Study
The document examines how energy‑efficient retrofits of ageing urban housing can be pursued without displacing vulnerable residents—a phenomenon termed “renoviction”. It focuses on three capital cities—Amsterdam, Athens and Paris—selected for their historic centres, heritage protections and tourism pressures. The study combines a review of scientific literature, case‑study analysis and interviews with policy makers, housing‑sector experts and local officials.
Key Findings: Housing & Climate Pressures
Across the EU, housing accounts for roughly one‑third of energy‑related emissions. The EU’s Renovation Wave aims to upgrade 35 million buildings by 2030, yet without safeguards, renovation can exacerbate housing unaffordability. In Amsterdam, average house prices have tripled in twenty years to €650 000, rents have risen 70 % since 2010 and social‑housing waiting lists stretch to 14 years. Paris faces a 7 % vacancy rate, a 4.2 % rent decline due to rent‑cap policies, but still sees rising displacement linked to short‑term rentals. Athens reports that about 27 % of homes in the central municipality are empty, with a large share of the population living in energy‑inefficient apartments and a lack of comprehensive social‑housing provision.
Policy Landscape and Instruments
The study outlines existing national and local tools: the Dutch National Heat Fund (loans up to €28 000, 0 % interest for low‑ and middle‑income households), France’s MaPrimeRénov’ covering up to 90 % of retrofit costs, and Greece’s recent subsidy programme offering €10 055 per unit for landlords who rent renovated homes to low‑income families for at least four years. It also highlights “one‑stop shops” in Amsterdam (pilot projects in Groningen and Twente) and Paris (CoachCopro platform) that combine advice, financing and administrative support.
Best‑Practice Recommendations
Across the three cities, the authors identify several effective measures:
- Tenant‑cost‑neutral retrofits – tenants pay no additional rent while energy bills fall.
- One‑stop shops at district level to streamline permits and financing.
- Targeted subsidies for housing associations and cooperatives to keep rents affordable.
- Public‑backed loan guarantees from the European Investment Bank to lower borrowing costs for social‑housing operators. The study stresses that any public money entering the housing sector should remain there, urging reinvestment of profits into further renovations.
Governance Challenges
National policies often dominate local action. In the Netherlands, national tax reforms have reduced the social‑housing stock, while in Greece centralised planning limits municipal autonomy. The authors note fragmented legal frameworks, differing rent‑control regimes and varying levels of data transparency as barriers to coordinated EU‑wide action.
Implications for EU Policy
The authors argue that EU mechanisms—such as the European Green Deal, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the European Pillar of Social Rights—provide a basis for harmonised standards, but stronger enforcement is needed. They recommend:
- Adopt EU‑wide tenant protection clauses linked to renovation funding.
- Create a unified “housing renovation fund” to pool national schemes.
- Expand loan‑guarantee facilities for not‑for‑profit landlords.
- Encourage knowledge‑sharing networks that disseminate successful city‑level models across member states.
Conclusion
Avoiding renovictions is presented as essential to align climate‑neutral housing upgrades with social justice. By combining targeted financial tools, streamlined administrative processes and robust tenant safeguards, European cities can achieve the dual goals of decarbonising the building stock and preserving affordable, inclusive urban communities.