Europe’s youth priced out of housing as affordability crisis deepens
New Eurofound research shows young adults face rising rents, insecure housing and limited access to affordable homes across Europe
04 February 2026 | 📧 editor@ipropertyradio.com
Young adults across Europe are facing deepening housing affordability challenges, with many unable to move out of the family home, secure stable accommodation or afford suitable homes in the private market, according to a major new report from Eurofound.
The research, Foundational challenges: The housing struggles of Europe’s youth, examines housing conditions for 18–39-year-olds and finds that affordability pressures are most acute in cities and tourist regions, where demand continues to outstrip supply. Eurofound reports that young people entering the housing market are disproportionately affected by high rents, insecure tenancies and a shortage of social and affordable housing options.
The report highlights that more than one quarter of young people in the EU live in overcrowded homes, compared with 16.9% of the general population. Young adults are also more likely to live in dwellings with poor insulation, damp or structural problems, and to struggle to keep their homes adequately warm.
Rental affordability is a particular concern. Eurofound analysis of web-scraped rental listings across Europe shows that in many countries only a very small share of rental homes are affordable on a typical young adult’s wage, especially in urban areas. Ireland is among the countries where the proportion of affordable rental supply for young people in cities is low, reinforcing reliance on the private rental market despite rising costs.
The report also points to growing housing insecurity linked to temporary and short-term rental contracts, particularly in student and youth housing. While these arrangements are designed to increase turnover and availability, Eurofound warns they can create stress and instability, with young tenants unsure where they will live once contracts expire.
Homelessness among young people is identified as the most extreme form of housing exclusion. Citing European Parliament and FEANTSA data, the report notes that several Member States report a growing proportion of 15–29-year-olds within the homeless population, driven by rising living costs, limited housing supply and weak safety nets for vulnerable groups such as care leavers.
Eurofound concludes that while housing policy remains a Member State competence, the scale of the crisis requires coordinated action. It calls for clearer strategic planning around tenure mix, increased supply of affordable and social housing, better use of vacant homes, and stronger tenant protections. The report also stresses the importance of involving young people directly in housing policy design to ensure solutions reflect their needs and lived experience.
