Across Europe, cities are facing housing pressures shaped by shifting economic conditions, demographic trends and environmental policies. A recent study sheds light on how these factors affect housing systems differently in Austria, Hungary, France, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom - offering valuable insights for local governments.

The report highlights both shared pressures and national dynamics. For instance, Austria’s strong public housing tradition continues to support affordability, while Hungary’s high homeownership rates and limited public support fuel inequalities. In France, social housing is often concentrated in segregated urban areas, whereas Italy’s tourism and heritage regulations influence access to homes.

Each national analysis explores tenure, affordability, housing quality and urbanisation patterns - connecting these with environmental and energy policies. For example, Norway’s welfare state faces urban housing stress, while in many countries, including Poland, shrinking towns contrast with growing metropolitan centres. In Spain and Italy, tourist rentals squeeze urban supply, and in the UK, affordability remains a key concern amidst social housing shortages.

This overview supports more informed and targeted policy action at the local level - and encourages knowledge exchange across borders.

This research aligns with the priorities of ICLEI Europe’s Socio-Cultural Transformations team, which promotes sustainability transitions that are just, inclusive and culturally grounded. ICLEI Members play a key role in this work: Linz and Vienna (Austria), Paris (France), Budapest (Hungary), Assisi (Italy), Stavanger and Oslo (Norway), Warsaw (Poland), Barcelona Metropolitan Area (Spain), Zurich (Switzerland) and London (United Kingdom) are among the 27 case study cities used to cross-compare urban dynamics across different city sizes.

Explore the full publication or explore the national reports on the ReHousIn website.

ReHousIn – Reducing Housing Inequalities is co-funded by the EU and examines how environmental, economic and demographic factors shape housing outcomes in Europe.