Senior Politico reporter, Aitor Hernandez-Morales, discusses Europe's housing crisis mirroring Canada's. Topics include rising prices, lack of public housing, gentrification in Rome, government funding decline, far-right party rise, and Spain's proactive approach.
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Quick takeaways
Europe is facing a housing affordability crisis with house prices soaring by 200% in some countries.
The shift towards privatization of housing in Europe has led to a lack of affordable housing options.
Deep dives
Housing Crisis in Europe
The housing crisis in Europe has escalated over the past decade, affecting various EU countries dramatically. House prices across the EU have increased significantly, with rises of around 46% on average. In countries like Estonia and Hungary, house prices have skyrocketed by 200% or more in the last 10 years. Even economically stable nations like Germany have seen a surge of 75% to 100% in house prices. This crisis has made housing unaffordable for the average European, leading to day-to-day struggles for many.
Portugal's Housing Affordability Issue
Portugal, despite its recent popularity among tourists and foreigners, is facing severe housing affordability challenges. The boom in tourism has led to a shortage of housing due to short-term rentals for tourists and the Golden Visa program, attracting wealthy buyers. This has caused Lisbon to have the most expensive rents in Europe, pricing out locals. The disparity between high housing costs and low average wages has created a desperate situation where residents fear being priced out of their city.
Shift in Government Housing Policies
Historically, European governments have shifted away from building public housing, leading to the current housing crisis. In the 1980s, there was a philosophical shift towards privatization of housing, exemplified by figures like Margaret Thatcher. Governments stopped investing in massive housing schemes, prioritizing private ownership. This shift has resulted in a lack of affordable housing options and insufficient supply to meet demand. The absence of government intervention has transformed housing from a public resource to a tradable monetary good, exacerbating the crisis.
Europe has a reputation as a place that is generally ahead of the curve on things like social housing. So it might surprise some Canadians to learn that much of the EU is well into the throes of a full-blown housing affordability crisis — and the general patterns bear a striking resemblance to our own.
Senior Politico reporter Aitor Hernandez-Morales explains just how bad things are getting, and what we might learn from how it's unfolding.
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