Home, the appeal of associations in Brussels (with the endorsement of Ilaria Salis): 'affordable' housing not just on paper

On Monday, July 20, associations representing tenants and housing movements launched an appeal to the European Commission in Brussels, backed by Italian politician Ilaria Salis. The call focuses on ensuring that housing is truly “accessible,” not just in name. The groups argue that current definitions of affordable housing fail to address the growing affordability crisis, particularly in cities where rents have become prohibitively high. They demand that the European Union establish objective economic criteria to define accessible housing, specifically, that housing costs should not exceed 20–30 percent of a household’s income. The appeal was presented during a session at the Chamber of Deputies, with participation from Unione Inquilini, the International Alliance of Residents, social networks, housing movements, and members of the Greens-Europe Free Democrats and the Left group in the European Parliament. These organizations claim that existing measures allow for the creation of housing labeled as “social” without necessarily making it affordable for those in need. According to Eurodeputy Benedetta Scuderi of the Greens-Europe Free Democrats, this creates a loophole where developers can construct luxury properties and simply price them slightly below market rates, thereby qualifying them as affordable while still generating substantial profits. She argues that public funds used to build such homes are being misused and that this practice must be stopped. The initiative comes amid ongoing efforts by the European Union to develop a common policy on housing. In December 2025, the European Commission unveiled its European Housing Accessibility Plan, structured around four pillars: increasing the supply of housing, mobilizing public and private investments, promoting reforms and immediate interventions, and protecting vulnerable groups affected by the housing crisis. Among the proposed measures were streamlined approval processes, revised state aid rules to facilitate investment in social housing, a European platform involving the European Investment Bank, actions against short-term rentals, and tools to identify speculative behavior in the real estate market. In March, the European Parliament approved its own recommendations on the housing crisis. These called for increased funding to build and renovate public and social housing, faster approval procedures, tax incentives for low- to middle-income families, and stronger protections against unjustified rent increases. It also proposed that building permits be reviewed within a maximum of sixty days. Despite these initiatives, critics argue that the focus on expanding supply and simplifying regulations risks prioritizing profitability over accessibility. Promoters of the appeal believe that setting clear income-based thresholds would prevent the misuse of public resources and ensure that housing genuinely meets the needs of those who require it. Scuderi emphasized that without such criteria, the concept of affordability will remain subjective and open to exploitation. The appeal seeks to challenge the current framework and push for more stringent oversight to align EU housing policies with the realities faced by millions of residents struggling to afford adequate shelter.