Europe’s social housing systems have grown over decades, shaped by different histories, political choices and welfare models. The result is a rich but often fragmented landscape that can be difficult to navigate. Housing Europe’s latest comparative study helps make sense of it.
Commissioned by the Irish Department of Housing, the report maps public, cooperative, and social housing systems across the EU and the UK, comparing how they are financed, governed, allocated, and linked to wider social policy. Drawing on expertise from Housing Europe, University College Dublin, the Metropolitan Research Institute and the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence, it brings together evidence from 30 countries in one place. Rather than searching for a single “best model”, the research explains why systems differ, what they have in common, and which policy choices have helped deliver affordable housing over time, making it an essential reference for policymakers, researchers and housing practitioners alike.
This is our recommended read if you are trying to put the housing puzzle together. Download the country profiles from the section below.