Germany’s federal institute BBSR
2022
Dr. Max-Christopher Krapp, Martin Vaché, Prof. Dr. Björn Egner, and others
The document titled "Housing Policies in the EU," published by Germany's Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), provides a thorough analysis of housing policies across European Union member states. Conducted as part of the "Experimental Housing and Urban Development (ExWoSt)" program, the study aims to address critical challenges in housing, such as climate change, urbanization, and demographic shifts, while shedding light on the diverse systems and policy structures in place. One of the key findings of the study is the significant variation in housing supply systems among EU countries. Some nations exhibit balanced markets with both rental and owner-occupied properties, whereas others are dominated by ownership. Additionally, the research highlights how national housing policies are influenced by historical contexts, socio-political factors, and legal frameworks, suggesting that effective solutions to housing challenges must be tailored at the national level, although they can benefit from international collaboration. The report also notes the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on housing markets, which affected lending practices and construction capacities differently across member states. It identifies common challenges such as rising urban prices and rents, a shortage of social housing, and energy poverty, indicating that these issues transcend national boundaries. Ultimately, the study emphasizes the necessity of understanding local contexts while promoting an international dialogue to tackle shared housing policy challenges across Europe.
The document titled "Housing Policies in the EU" was published in April 2022 by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) within the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR) in Germany. The research was conducted as part of the "Experimental Housing and Urban Development (ExWoSt)" program under the German EU Council Presidency in 2020. The project was managed by Rolf Müller and Jonathan Franke from BBSR, with contributions from the Institute for Housing and the Environment (IWU) in Darmstadt, and the Technical University Darmstadt's Institute of Political Science. Key authors include Dr. Max-Christopher Krapp, Martin Vaché, Prof. Dr. Björn Egner, Prof. Dr. Kai Schulze, and Samantha Thomas.
Context
The study provides a comprehensive analysis of housing policies across European Union member states, focusing on the challenges posed by climate change, energy efficiency, urbanization, immigration, and demographic shifts. It aims to offer insights into the diverse housing supply systems and policy structures within the EU.
Key Findings
- Diverse Housing Systems: The study identifies a wide range of housing supply systems among EU member states, from balanced markets with both owner-occupied and rental properties to those dominated by owner-occupied housing.
- Policy Structures: National housing policies are shaped by historical developments, socio-political tasks, market structures, and legal frameworks. The study highlights that solutions to housing challenges need to be developed at the national level but can benefit from international exchange and learning.
- Governance Variability: The governance of housing policies varies significantly across countries, with responsibilities distributed differently among national, regional, and local levels.
- Impact of Financial Crisis: The 2008 financial crisis had varying impacts on housing markets across member states, influencing lending practices, housing demand due to immigration, and construction industry capacities.
- EU Influence: The EU's impact on national housing policies is generally low but varies depending on national contexts and existing housing stocks. EU regulations on state aid and energy efficiency play significant roles in some countries.
- Common Challenges: Rising prices and rents in urban areas are widespread issues across member states, along with a lack of social or subsidized housing and energy poverty concerns.
- Tenure Dynamics: There is a trend towards increased rental demand in urbanized areas due to factors like urbanization and labor mobility, which may lead to a convergence of tenure types across the EU.
The report underscores the importance of understanding national contexts while fostering international dialogue to address shared challenges in housing policy across Europe.