Vanesa Valiño & others
Housing Europe
2025
🏠 Context and Purpose The report "Housing Cooperatives in Europe - Resilience and Adaption to Changing Need," published in 2025 by Housing Europe, addresses the growing challenges of housing affordability in Europe, particularly for low and middle-income groups. It serves as a follow-up to the 2012 publication "Profiles of a Movement: Co-operative Housings Around the World," which was created for the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives. The report emphasizes the potential of housing cooperatives to provide non-speculative housing solutions, thereby enhancing accessibility for those in need. 📊 Scale and Impact Housing cooperatives manage at least 7.9 million housing units across EU and EFTA countries, with the Housing Europe network comprising over 22,000 cooperatives. Germany leads in the number of rental units, managing more than 2.2 million. In Sweden and Norway, cooperatives oversee 1.1 million and 370,000 homes, respectively. Austria's 97 housing cooperatives manage 460,000 homes, accounting for about 10% of local households, while Swiss cooperatives represent 4.3% of the total housing stock and reach 20% in cities like Zurich. 🌍 Diverse Models and Approaches The report highlights various tenure models, with some countries focusing on rental (e.g., Germany, Switzerland) and others on ownership (e.g., Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy). In France, HLM cooperatives have built over 400,000 units, contributing approximately 5,000 new homes annually. Notably, cooperatives in Poland and Estonia originated from the privatization of state housing after the fall of communism. Austrian cooperatives operate on a cost-recovery basis, reinvesting surpluses into affordable housing and expanding services to include community initiatives. ⚠️ Current Challenges Despite their potential, housing cooperatives face significant challenges, including rising construction costs, energy transition requirements, and a decline in public support compared to post-WWII periods. The increasing pressure on housing affordability is particularly acute for young people and low-income households, with regulatory frameworks often favoring private development. 🌱 Emerging Cooperative Initiatives The report also examines new cooperative models, such as right-of-use cooperatives in Barcelona and Community Land Trusts in Brussels, which emphasize community building and environmental sustainability. These initiatives highlight the importance of municipal support, financial innovation, and democratic governance structures. 📈 Recommendations for European Support To bolster housing cooperatives, the report suggests that European institutions provide access to low-interest financing, support for sustainable renovation, and recognition of cooperative models within the social economy. It calls for regulatory frameworks that promote affordable housing models and facilitate knowledge exchange across countries. 📅 Conclusion The report concludes that housing cooperatives can uniquely address the intertwined challenges of housing affordability, climate change, and social cohesion, advocating for a vision of housing that includes diverse forms and organizations within the broader social economy.
Policymakers, housing cooperatives, urban planners, researchers, and social advocates
This comprehensive report, published in 2025 by Housing Europe, provides an updated overview of housing cooperatives across Europe, examining both well-established models and emerging initiatives. The report serves as a follow-up to the 2012 publication "Profiles of a Movement: Co-operative Housings Around the World," which was created for the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives.
Context and Purpose
The report emerges in a context of growing housing affordability challenges across Europe, where accessing decent housing is increasingly difficult for low and middle-income groups. It highlights how housing cooperatives, with their democratic "one person, one vote" principle and commitment to non-speculative housing, can be part of the solution to this crisis.
The document was compiled with contributions from Housing Europe members and partners across 12 European countries, including Austria, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The report acknowledges Vanesa Valiño as the driving force behind the project, who brought her experience in advancing housing rights in Barcelona.
Structure and Methodology
The report is divided into two main parts:
- An overview of well-established cooperatives rooted in the early 20th century and consolidated from the 1970s onwards
- A focus on new cooperative initiatives that emerged after the 2007-2008 financial crisis
Key Findings: Traditional Cooperative Models
Scale and Impact
- Housing cooperatives manage at least 7.9 million housing units across EU and EFTA countries
- The Housing Europe network alone includes over 22,000 housing cooperatives
- Germany has the largest number with more than 2.2 million rental units
- In Sweden and Norway, cooperatives manage over 1.1 million and 370,000 homes respectively
- In Austria, 97 housing cooperatives manage 460,000 homes (about 10% of households)
- Swiss cooperatives represent 4.3% of the total housing stock but reach 20% in cities like Zurich
Diverse Models and Approaches
- Tenure models vary widely: some focus on rental (Germany, Switzerland), others on ownership (Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy), and some offer both options
- In France, HLM cooperatives have built over 400,000 units and produce about 5,000 new homes for sale annually
- In Poland and Estonia, cooperatives emerged from the privatization of state housing after the fall of communism
- Austrian cooperatives operate on a cost-recovery basis, reinvesting surpluses into new affordable housing
- Many cooperatives have expanded beyond housing provision to include community services, sustainability initiatives, and neighborhood development
Current Challenges
- Rising construction costs and interest rates are making new developments difficult
- Energy transition requirements demand significant investments in existing buildings
- In many countries, public support has diminished compared to post-WWII periods
- Housing affordability pressures are increasing, particularly for young people and low-income households
- Regulatory frameworks sometimes favor private development over cooperative models
Key Findings: Emerging Cooperative Initiatives
New Models
- Right-of-use cooperatives in Barcelona (like Sostre Cívic) are pioneering models where land is made available through long-term leases
- Community Land Trusts in Brussels and adaptations in France (Organismes Foncier Solidaire) separate land ownership from buildings to ensure permanent affordability
- These new initiatives often emphasize community building, environmental sustainability, and anti-speculative measures
Success Factors
- Municipal support through land allocation, tax benefits, and regulatory frameworks
- Financial innovation, including ethical banking, community investment, and public guarantees
- Democratic governance structures that balance resident, community, and public interests
- Strong community engagement and participatory processes
Recommendations for European Support
The report identifies several ways European institutions could support housing cooperatives:
- Access to low-interest, long-term financing and guarantees, particularly through the European Investment Bank
- Support for decarbonization and sustainable renovation of existing housing
- Recognition of the specific features of the cooperative model within the social economy
- Facilitation of knowledge exchange and best practices across countries
- Regulatory frameworks that support affordable, non-speculative housing models
Conclusion
The report concludes that housing cooperatives are uniquely positioned to address intersecting challenges of housing affordability, climate change, and social cohesion. It calls for a broad vision of housing that embraces diverse forms and organizations, including cooperatives as part of the broader third sector or social economy. This perspective can drive public policies and financial models that ensure all citizens have access to dignified, sustainable, and affordable housing with agency over where and how they live.