Part 1: Mapping the housing needs in the EU, assessing the impacts of scarcity and providing an overview of relevant EU legislation

The resource titled "Part 1: Mapping the housing needs in the EU, assessing the impacts of scarcity and providing an overview of relevant EU legislation" is published by the European Parliament. The authors of this comprehensive study are Alina Makarevičienė, Greta Skubiejūtė, Agnė Zakaravičiūtė, and Justinas Jočys. This publication delves into the pressing housing needs across the EU, highlighting inequalities in affordability, accessibility, and quality of housing.

The study reveals significant disparities in housing conditions throughout Europe, particularly between Southern and Eastern Europe, which struggle with overcrowding and deprivation, and Western and Northern Europe, where rising prices and limited supply are prevalent. Urban areas experience acute shortages, while rural regions often contend with deteriorating housing and investment shortages.

As of 2024, approximately 8.2% of Europeans spend over 40% of their income on housing, indicating a severe cost burden, with Greece facing the highest rate at 28.9%. Energy poverty exacerbates this, with 9.2% of the population unable to keep their homes adequately warm, particularly in Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Portugal, where around 20% of households struggle with heating.

The overcrowding rate in 2024 stood at 16.9% across the EU, with Central and Eastern European countries exhibiting the highest rates. For instance, Romania and Latvia have overcrowding rates of 40% and 39.3%, respectively. Severe housing deprivation, which combines overcrowding with inadequate living conditions, remains a prominent issue in countries like Latvia and Bulgaria.

Gender and age disparities significantly influence housing needs. Women face higher rates of after-housing-cost poverty (31.2% compared to 28% for men), with single mothers particularly vulnerable. Youth in the EU experience unprecedented barriers to housing independence, with the average age of leaving home reaching 26.2 years, largely due to rising costs.

Ethnic and racial minorities, including Roma communities, face systemic discrimination in housing access. A staggering 45% of people of African descent and 40% of Muslims live in overcrowded conditions, which is more than double the EU average. Migrants also experience significant barriers, with 34.2% of non-EU citizens living in overcrowded households.

To address these challenges, the study recommends a multi-faceted approach involving strengthened EU legislation, expanded funding for affordable housing, and improved data collection on housing needs. Specifically, it suggests embedding social goals in climate-related building policies and promoting tenant rights within the EU's social policy framework.

The study emphasizes the need for coordinated action at the EU level to tackle housing scarcity and ensure all residents can access decent, sustainable, and affordable housing. With rising costs and increasing inequalities, the importance of effective housing policies has never been more critical for social stability and inclusion across Europe.