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 aims to provide a toolbox for Member States, regions and cities to address housing affordability and ease housing pressure in their local context. 

The Commission proposal, published on 9 September 2026, includes the Affordable Housing Act and a Commission Recommendation to support national, regional and local authorities in addressing housing affordability and availability in areas facing the greatest pressures.

It enables 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 also requires 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 EU Youth Test at the EESC was applied to this opinion. The European Students’ Union (ESU) was chosen by a group of interested youth organisations to represent all of them during the opinion-making process.