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www.housingeurope.eu
info@housingeurope.eu
@HousingEurope
Where is housing in the future social contract?
Housing in times of welfare transformation: new challenges
and how to answer them
The Conclusions
CECODHAS Housing Europe
Colloquium
Leuven, 24-25 June 2013

Social Housing in
the Future Social Contract
1. Everyone has a right to adequate housing
a. Human right recognized by the UN
b. Security of tenure, availability of
services, affordability, habitability, accessibility, loc
ation & cultural adequacy
c. Housing as a point of access to other human rights
d. Affordability is a major issue in Europe- 26% of
households spending > 40% of their income on
housing costs
www.housingeurope.eu info@housingeurope.eu @HousingEurope

Social Housing in
2. The markets failed to deliver adequate housing
a. Globalization & neo-liberalism led to a turnaround in
housing policies = failed approach
b. Deregulation of (housing) finance markets and the
associated banking systems
c. NOT TRUE that the state does not have a place in
housing and that the private market will be able to
provide housing solutions for all
d. Transition to a new economic & governance system
needed

Social Housing in
3. Home- ownership is NOT the only tenure
a. The idea of home- ownership has been the
absolute goal over the last 30 years
b. Any other option held as inferior…
c. This approach now widely recognized as misguided
d. Still preferred option for majority of
households, BUT…
e. A more diversified range of tenure options needed
and should maybe be encouraged

Social Housing in
4. Housing is a political, not a technical concern
a. It is now recognized that housing is a political and
democratic issue
b. A rather political than technical manifesto for
housing is needed
c. A political debate needs to be raised to challenge
the inadequacy of the housing conditions for
millions of households
d. Adequacy of living conditions = political decision

Social Housing in
5. A call for evidence- based policymaking
a. Need to define “poor” and “vulnerable”
b. Evidence required to support assumptions
c. Actual role of social housing within European
welfare systems has to be supported by consistent
evidence
d. One way forward: Development of a European
Housing Observatory to report at EU level, assisting
the EU strategy related to the housing sector

Social Housing in
6. Housing and the Energy Transition
a. Simplistic approach that Green Economy is a “win-
win” escape route from the crisis
b. As fossil fuel prices keep rising, addressing energy
poverty may be a major challenge on welfare
budgets in terms of income support and healthcare
costs
c. An integrated city-wide approach is needed for an
effective energy transition- Just environmentally
responsible buildings not enough…

Social Housing in
7. Working with civil society
a. Individual behavior is a key element for saving
energy
b. Engagement of the people is absolutely essential
both in and outside of their homes
c. Inspiration and leadership needed to ensure that
people can share a different vision for the future of
the urban areas

Social Housing in
8. Where next for social housing providers?
a. Leading role of social housing providers in energy
saving through new construction and refurbishment
of existing dwelling stock
b. Opportunity to interact with tenants, local
communities and governmental stakeholders in
their decision –making processes
c. If wider economic and energy transition is to
become a reality, social housing providers in EU
need to be active in that process

www.housingeurope.eu
info@housingeurope.eu
@HousingEurope
25 Years
1988 - 2013

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CECODHAS Housing Europe- Summer Colloquium 2013 Conclusions

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