Building Affordable, Energy‑Efficient Homes for Everyone

European Parliament Resolution on the Housing Crisis (2024‑2029)

The European Parliament has set up a Special Committee on the Housing Crisis to find solutions for decent, sustainable and affordable homes. The resolution highlights the scale of the problem, the data that shows how it is affecting all parts of society, and the actions the EU will take to help Member States.

1. What the crisis looks like

The data show that rising prices and rents are squeezing households of all income levels, especially young adults (average age of leaving parents’ home: 26.3 years), low‑ and middle‑income families, the elderly, the homeless and people with disabilities.

2. EU’s role and main policy tools

The resolution stresses that housing policy is mainly a Member‑State competence, but EU action can strengthen national capacity, harmonise standards, and unlock funding.

3. Key proposals

1. Increase supply

• Build more homes, especially affordable, social and cooperative housing.
• Use brownfields, repurpose existing buildings, and allow multiple dwellings on family land.
• Simplify permitting: reduce red‑tape, shorten approval times, and create one‑stop digital platforms.

2. Make housing affordable

• Reduce tax burdens on owner‑occupied homes and first‑time buyers.
• Provide targeted subsidies for low‑income households, students, and essential workers.
• Encourage rent‑control measures where needed and protect tenants from unfair eviction.

3. Improve quality and sustainability

• Raise energy‑efficiency standards; support renovation of old buildings.
• Promote circular construction materials and prefabrication to cut costs and time.
• Ensure new homes meet accessibility standards for people with disabilities.

4. Support the construction sector

• Address labour shortages through apprenticeships, better wages, and safer working conditions.
• Simplify procurement rules for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
• Encourage digital tools and modular construction to boost productivity.

5. Finance the housing market

• Mobilise private investment through guarantees, low‑interest loans, and public‑private partnerships.
• Use the EIB and national promotional banks to fund large projects.
• Keep financial stability in mind: monitor mortgage markets, prevent speculative bubbles, and ensure transparent reporting.

6. Protect vulnerable groups

• Strengthen the European Platform on Combating Homelessness.
• Expand the European Child Guarantee to cover housing, health and education.
• Provide special support for the elderly, disabled, and victims of domestic violence.

7. Improve data and evidence

• Create a comprehensive EU housing database covering affordability, energy performance, and vacancy rates.
• Publish annual reports and use data to set realistic targets.
• Share best practices across Member States and regions.

4. Expected outcomes

• More homes – especially affordable, energy‑efficient and accessible.
• Lower housing costs – through tax relief, subsidies and better market regulation.
• Reduced social exclusion – by ensuring that low‑income families, young people, the elderly and the disabled can live in decent homes.
• Stronger construction sector – with a skilled workforce, modern methods and better financing.
• Better data – enabling evidence‑based policy and transparent monitoring.

The resolution calls on the European Commission, the Council, national governments and local authorities to act together, using the tools above, to bring the EU’s housing crisis under control and to build a future where everyone has a decent, sustainable and affordable place to live.