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 in April 2022 by Germany's Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), offers an in-depth analysis of the housing landscape across European Union member states. Conducted under the "Experimental Housing and Urban Development (ExWoSt)" program, this research sheds light on the complex interplay of climate change, urbanization, and demographic shifts that shape housing policies in the EU. One of the key findings emphasizes the diversity of housing systems within the EU, ranging from well-balanced markets with both rental and owner-occupied properties to systems leaning heavily towards homeownership. The study highlights that while national housing policies are influenced by historical and socio-political contexts, solutions to shared challenges can benefit from international exchange and collaboration. Governance of housing policies varies significantly across member states, impacting how responsibilities are allocated at national, regional, and local levels. The report also notes the uneven effects of the 2008 financial crisis on housing markets, which altered lending practices and housing demand. Furthermore, it acknowledges that while the EU's influence on national housing policies is generally minimal, it does play a role in areas like state aid and energy efficiency regulations. In conclusion, the report underscores the urgency of addressing common challenges such as rising urban rents, the shortage of social housing, and energy poverty. It calls for a deeper understanding of national contexts to foster effective dialogue and collaborative solutions to the pressing issues facing housing policy in 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.