Why Europe’s Affordable Housing Act Won’t Make Housing More Affordable
Parts of Europe face a housing crisis, and the European Commission wants to act. But there is a problem: building homes, urban planning, and social housing are the responsibility of national, regional, and local governments. Housing is, for the most part, simply not an EU competence. To its credit, the Commission’s wider plan reflects this, most of its 10 actions address the real drivers: supply, investment, and vacant homes. The forthcoming Affordable Housing Act is the exception, targeting short-term rental (STR) services instead.
