Housing: A simplification that works for consumers

Housing has become one of the top concerns for European consumers, and for good reason: decent, safe and affordable homes are increasingly out of reach. The issue is straightforward: supply of this kind of housing is failing to meet demand.

Several avenues exist to speed up procedures, notably stepping up the renovation rates. However, faster delivery cannot come at the expense of consumer protection.

To address the housing crisis, this issue should be addressed at EU level. That is one of the reasons we welcomed the recent publication of the Affordable Housing Act. 

At this stage, the precise scope of the package remains uncertain. In the absence of further clarity, BEUC sets out in this paper the principles that should guide the Commission’s work, as well as the red lines that must not be crossed from a consumer perspective.