New Youth Wiki Report: Housing Affordability for Young People in Europe

A new Youth Wiki report, “Youth access to affordable and quality housing. A comparative analysis of national policies”, provides a comprehensive overview of housing affordability challenges for young people across 34 European countries, highlighting policy gaps and potential solutions.

The report shows that access to affordable and quality housing remains a major challenge affecting young people’s independence and well-being. Although housing is recognised as a key social right under the European Pillar of Social Rights, many young Europeans struggle to secure adequate living conditions.

According to the data, in 2024, 27% of young people aged 15–29 lived in overcrowded housing, rising to 42% among those at risk of poverty. More than 10% of young people aged 20–29 spent over 40% of their income on housing, significantly exceeding the 30% affordability benchmark. Severe housing deprivation affected 7% of young people.

The report identifies key policy gaps, including insufficient social housing in many countries, limited support for renters, and the need for stronger public-private cooperation. It also highlights the importance of addressing differences between urban and rural areas, promoting the use of vacant housing, and implementing more targeted policy measures.

Special attention is given to vulnerable groups, particularly young migrants and refugees, who face additional barriers and discrimination in accessing housing.

This report serves as an important analytical resource for policymakers, stakeholders, and youth organisations working to address housing affordability challenges in Europe.

Read the full report via the link.