September saw European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen deliver her annual State of the Union Address. This year, housing was in focus.

The President underlined that homes are a place of safety, family and belonging, and recognised that access to housing is not only a matter of social cohesion, but also of healthy economies and European competitiveness. Importantly, she stated:

“For too many Europeans today, home has become a source of anxiety. It can mean debt or uncertainty.”

Her speech was followed by several important announcements signalling greater EU engagement in housing policy:

Revision of State aid rules is foreseen in order to boost housing provision. We are working with our members to assess how European rules can be designed to work across radically different national contexts.
Facilitating new housing and student residences will be a priority. For us, the balance between new construction and renovation is a deeply local question that must be guided by community knowledge and needs.
Improved planning and forecasting is urgently needed. Housing policy must take into account the realities of both vulnerable households and the middle classes, and recognise housing’s potential to overcome social and economic barriers.
The first-ever EU Housing Summit will be convened in the next 12 months. Housing Europe will advocate for the strong inclusion of national and local actors in these discussions.
A legal initiative on short-term rentals will be proposed “to tackle the remaining issues.” This is a welcome signal that the EU has acknowledged the impact of short-term lets on affordability and is drawing inspiration from pioneering cities and regions. Yet, we also know that EU-level promises alone cannot resolve the housing crisis. Real solutions will depend on the expertise of national and regional governments, and on local approaches tailored to Europe’s diverse housing ecosystems.

Housing Europe’s position is clear: if Europe is to act effectively on housing, it must keep one eye on the present and one on the future—urgently addressing today’s affordability struggles while ensuring that financing continues to deliver long-term affordability.

Over the next 12 months, we want to see:

A European housing plan that reflects the regional specificities of housing systems.
Strong support for public, cooperative and social housing in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
Investment safeguards to ensure funding does not fuel speculation, but secures homes that remain affordable for all.
An EIB action plan providing at least 75% co-financing rates, alongside robust support for ownership models that guarantee affordability, such as Community Land Trusts and cooperatives.