Europe is confronting a bloc-wide housing crisis, marked by a severe shortage of affordable homes, the declining quality of new builds and the deteriorating state of existing dwellings. Recognising the central role of housing in social cohesion, economic resilience and climate transition, the European Union has made housing a strategic priority.
United by a common vision for a fair and sustainable housing future, the Architects’ Council of Europe and Housing Europe are joining forces to turn ambition into action and calling for urgent and coordinated EU action.
Adopted on the occasion of the conference “Affordable and Quality Housing for All”, co-organised with the Czech Chamber of Architects (CKA), this joint statement sets out four key priorities for policymakers and stakeholders:
1. Housing as a Human Right and Public Asset
Housing must be treated as a public good — not a speculative asset. Policies should embed the Right to Adequate Housing in all EU and national frameworks, support community-led and cooperative housing, and strengthen participatory design and planning.
2. Renovation First: From Demolition to Reuse and Care
With millions of vacant homes and underused buildings, the greatest opportunity lies in revitalising what we already have. ACE and Housing Europe call for tax incentives and financial frameworks that prioritise adaptive reuse and district-scale renovation.
3. Quality by Design: Housing that Enhances Well-Being Affordable housing must not compromise on quality. Good design ensures resilience, health and long-term social value. ACE and Housing Europe advocate for EU-wide quality benchmarks and procurement systems that reward life-cycle performance over lowest-cost bids.
4.Innovation and Digitalisation: Tools for Scalable, Sustainable Housing
Digitalisation across the construction value chain is essential to delivering affordable, high-quality housing and off-site construction shall be recognised as a vital strategy for accelerating housing delivery, controlling waste and costs and elevating construction quality.
A Call to Action
In the face of the housing crisis, we demand bold, decisive action to tackle its root causes. Quality must stand equal to affordability. We must learn from past failures and build upon the proven successes already achieved across Europe. We are ready to support the European Union, Member States and cities in transforming these principles into concrete, measurable action.
