Affordable and adequate homes - The cost of and access to housing in EuropeForthcoming

Adequate, affordable housing has become a matter of great concern, with an alarming number of Europeans with low or lower household incomes unable to access any, especially in capital cities. Housing was a key factor in people’s experience of the COVID-19 pandemic: its quality and level of safety significantly affected how lockdowns and social distancing measures were experienced, with those who had no access to quality housing at higher risk of deteriorating living conditions and well-being. This report will investigate the social consequences of housing cost overburden and the impact of inadequate housing on living conditions among different population groups during the pandemic. It will explore the link between income and the burden of housing cost among these groups and investigate housing policies during the crisis, with particular emphasis on moratoriums on rental and mortgage payments and evictions.