Everyone Deserves a Home: The Housing Crisis of the EU

As a university student at the University of California, I have experienced firsthand the harsh realities of housing insecurity. At my university, the housing crisis is more than a headline; it affects us mentally, emotionally, and financially. Finding a safe, affordable place to live often feels like a game of survival. 

This struggle echoes around the world. In the European Union, 10% of EU citizens spend roughly 40% of their disposable income on housing, highlighting an ongoing struggle that requires immediate reform („Is Housing Affordable“). Urban areas, in particular, are disproportionately affected by the Housing Cost Overburden Rate as the influx of high-skilled workers drives up prices, deepening the wealth disparity and exacerbating the shortage of affordable housing. 

Back home, many UC students face similar pressures. The influx of nearby college students from the city into our housing market has driven up prices. Year after year, the rent continues to increase, forcing students to work part-time jobs to stay afloat while pursuing their education.  

In the EU, rental prices have increased by 18% between 2010 and 2022 („Rising housing costs in the EU: the facts,“ 2025). As mortgage rates continue to grow and individuals turn to rental accommodations, the prices themselves are skyrocketing, leaving lower-income citizens at a crossroads. Unfortunately, rent controls in Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, and Catalonia are exacerbating the problem as the intervention is shortening the already limited affordable supply („European Real Estate Market Outlook 2025“). 

Modernizing and expanding the Housing stock seems like a viable solution, yet it isn’t easy to come by. As most EU buildings were built before the 1980s and have a D rating for sustainability, the renovations required to meet the current environmental standards are quite costly (Lefort, 2025). Additionally, businesses have been reluctant to invest in new capital since the Global Financial Crisis, as roughly 75% of European Construction companies have not invested in innovative technologies that would bolster sustainability. While some construction companies are eager to become more environmentally friendly, they lack the financial support necessary to implement significant changes.  

Social housing could help ease the pressure, but its availability has declined since 2010, and access criteria differ widely between EU member states. In the Czech Republic, there is an idea to increase investments to CZK 10 billion annually to expand greater access (Expats.cz Staff, ČTK, 2025). Additionally, the European Commission is providing support by allocating $90 million to the Czech Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to help create 3,500 new affordable houses by 2026. While the Czech Republic is one of the EU’s lowest-ranked nations for social housing, the ongoing investments will help implement change. 

As these efforts unfold, one thing is sure: housing security must be central to the EU’s vision of a sustainable future.  As someone who knows the fear of housing inaccessibility, we must provide real, tangible solutions for those disproportionately affected by the Overburden Rate. Everyone deserves a place to call home. 

Sources: 

– Cost-of-living crisis: quality public services can help tackle price hikes in transport, energy and housing. (2025, May 2). EESC. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/news-media/news/cost-living-crisis-quality-public-services-can-help-tackle-price-hikes-transport-energy-and-housing

-European Affordable Housing Plan. (n.d.). European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14670-European-affordable-housing-plan_en

-European Real Estate Market Outlook 2025 – Living. (n.d.). CBRE. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.cbre.com/insights/books/european-real-estate-market-outlook-2025/living

-Expats.cz Staff, ČTK. (2025, March 18). EU approves EUR 90 million to boost affordable housing in Czechia. Expats.cz. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/eu-approves-eur-90-million-for-affordable-housing-in-czech-republic

-Is housing affordable? (n.d.). European Commission. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/digpub/housing/bloc-2b.html

-Lefort, J. S., & Sinnott, E. (2025, June 16). Why does Europe have a housing crisis and how do we fix it? European Investment Bank. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.eib.org/en/essays/housing-crisis-solutions-europe

-Rising housing costs in the EU: the facts (infographics) | Topics. (2025, February 3). European Parliament. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20241014STO24542/rising-housing-costs-in-the-eu-the-facts-infographics

-European Commission feedback on Affordable Housing Plan https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14670-European-affordable-housing-plan_en