EU Affordable Housing Act

Practical information

• Composition of the Study Group
• Francesco NAPOLITANO (administrator), María Dolores CARMONA (assistant)
• TEN Section meeting: 6 October 2026 (tbc)
• EESC Plenary session: 21-22 October 2026 (tbc)
• Contact

Background

The Affordable Housing Act will aim to provide a toolbox for Member States, regions and cities to address housing affordability and ease housing pressure in their local context. 

Through this Act, the Commission will seek to support public authorities in identifying areas of housing stress, based on publicly available data. 

It will enable them, in full respect of the principle of subsidiarity, to take measures to protect housing affordability in those areas, including with regards to short-term rentals, notably through rules or guidance to platforms (e.g. Airbnb-type markets) in high-pressure areas.

Addressing the housing crisis in areas under housing stress will also require measures to increase housing supply in areas falling under Member States' competences, such as promoting new construction, making better use of vacant properties, developing social housing, and simplifying planning and permitting procedures. 

The Commission draft is expected to be published in September 2026 and to include a legislative proposal for a directive.