Our Italian members, Federcasa and Legacoop Abitanti invited Housing Europe and the French Union for Social Housing (USH) to exchange concerns over construction costs, climate adaptation and mounting political pressure on the sector.
The President and Secretary-General of USH said interest in industrialised housing is increasing as a way to speed up delivery, but warned that faster production is not yet leading to lower prices. They also pointed to a rise in empty private rental homes, as small landlords increasingly keep dwellings vacant rather than renting them out.
Climate adaptation featured prominently in the discussions, with French organisations presenting a free digital tool to help housing providers assess climate risks and plan adaptation measures. Expect a detailed report from Housing Europe on this topic in a month from now.
Both sides also highlighted structural challenges, including a mismatch between housing stock and demand, with single-person households accounting for a large share of waiting lists. Political uncertainty was raised as a key risk, with members noting increased stigmatisation of social housing in public debate and continued pressure on providers ahead of elections in France.
In Italy, FEDERCASA and Legacoop Abitanti warned that decentralised responsibilities without adequate funding continue to undermine investment, despite proposals such as a revolving fund to support social housing.