Key facts
- House prices in the EU rose 53% between 2015 and 2024, while rents increased by nearly 17%.
- Young people and vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected by rising housing costs.
- An estimated 1.3 million people experienced homelessness in the EU in 2025.
- The FRA urges a rights-based approach to housing to address homelessness and protect against eviction.
- The right to adequate housing is recognized under international human rights law.
Rising housing costs are making adequate housing increasingly inaccessible for many Europeans, leading to a growing risk of homelessness, according to a report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
Between 2015 and 2024, house prices across the EU surged by 53%, while rents climbed by nearly 17%, according to data from Eurostat cited in the FRA's annual report. This trend is pushing more individuals and families into precarious situations where they cannot afford their homes.
Young people and other vulnerable groups are particularly hard-hit by these affordability pressures, facing challenges in accessing their basic right to adequate housing and remaining unprotected against eviction. The FRA noted that homelessness is on the rise, with the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (Feantsa) estimating that approximately 1.3 million people were experiencing homelessness in the EU in 2025.
The report emphasizes that the right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right, applicable to everyone, including migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. International and European agreements mandate governments to prevent homelessness, improve access to affordable housing, and combat housing discrimination.
The FRA advocates for a rights-based approach to housing to effectively address homelessness, prevent forced evictions, and provide safeguards for those in vulnerable situations. Director Sirpa Rautio also commented on the broader context, noting that geopolitical instability and security threats are testing the EU's commitment to fundamental rights.