housing developments in european countries - Department of ...

Section 1
Introduction and Summary
Introduction and Summary Section 1
housing stock – the standard of dwellings. It reveals
over an extended period. The countries in this category
market as a whole, and is currently a key concern of
concerned about refurbishment of the housing stock,
that the differences between the quality of dwellings in
are: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and
policy makers in Finland, the Netherlands, Ireland,
most especially the portion comprised of apartment
the long-standing EU members, as compared to the
Slovenia. Similarly, in Spain, Central Government
Luxembourg and Spain. In order to address this
buildings constructed between the 1950s and 1980s
new and applicant members, are greater than the
housing policy objectives are outlined in housing
problem, the Irish, Dutch and Finnish governments
using system building methods. As a result of poor
variations in housing availability, highlighted above.
financing plans which are produced on a regular basis,
have increased investment in the servicing of building
initial construction standards and long-standing neglect
while both the Portuguese and Turkish national
land and have improved the capacity of the spatial
of maintenance, these dwellings now require extensive
TABLE 1.4.3 indicates that dwellings in the 28 countries
constitutions include clauses pertinent to housing
planning system in an effort to increase new housing
refurbishment. However, the task of improving them is
under examination contain an average of 3.6 rooms
policy-making.
output. The Finnish Government has also introduced
encumbered by pressures on government finances
and have an average floor area of 76.5 m 2 . In the case
new types of co-operative ownership housing for
combined with the fact that after the privatisation
of the 15 long-standing EU members these figures rise
Information on housing policy development and
households who cannot afford full home ownership.
measures, mentioned earlier, many of these dwellings
to 4.4 rooms and 84.2 m 2 , but these averages fall to
implementation agencies in European countries is also
In Luxembourg a reduced rate of capital gains tax
are now in the ownership of private individuals who
3.6 rooms and 72.9 m 2 in the case of the 10 countries
included in TABLE 1.4.4. This indicates that in most of
payable on the sale of land or apartment blocks has
may lack the means and/or the organisational capacity
which acceded to EU membership in 2004. More
the countries under examination, housing policy-
been introduced for a limited period. If these fiscal
to arrange the requisite repairs. In order to address this
detailed analysis reveals that the average figures for
making is a central government responsibility. Austria,
measures do not lead to the release of more land for
problem, compulsory reserve funds were introduced in
floor space and number of rooms of dwellings in the
Belgium, France, Spain and Sweden are exceptions to
house building, the Government intends to introduce a
Slovenia in 2002. These will oblige all apartment
new EU member States are skewed by the inclusion of
this rule, because under their federal systems of
progressive land tax to penalise the speculative
owners to accumulate funds through monthly deposits
Cyprus, because dwellings in this country are
government, responsibility for this area is shared by
retention of sites by land owners. In most of the other
for the maintenance and renewal of blocks. The Czech
comparatively generously sized. Among the 8 CEE
central and regional or local government. In the United
countries, housing policy interventions have been
Government has established three programmes to fund
countries which joined the EU in 2004 the average
Kingdom, devolved administrations are responsible for
introduced to address disequilibrium in specific
the upgrading and repair of the prefabricated panel
floor area of dwellings is 58.1 m 2 and dwellings
housing policy-making in Wales, Scotland and
segments of the housing market or regions of the
buildings which are common in its housing stock. In
contain 3.2 rooms on average.
Northern Ireland. In the majority of European
country. In this vein, the Sustainable Communities
Romania two new schemes for improving the existing
countries, housing policy is implemented by local or
Plan, which was published by the United Kingdom
housing stock have been introduced. These fund the
The variations between the availability of basic
regional government. However, TABLE 1.4.4 reveals
Government in 2003, aims to increase the provision of
retrofitting of multi-storey housing in areas at high risk
facilities (such as running water and central heating) in
that in several of the countries which joined the EU in
high-quality and affordable housing in areas of high
of earthquakes and the refurbishment of buildings to
dwellings in the 15 long-standing EU member States
2004, designated bodies have been established to carry
demand and to tackle the housing shortage in London
minimise thermal energy loss.
and the new and applicant members are also
out this work. These are: Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia,
and the South East by providing for major growth in
significant. Among the long-standing 15 EU member
Malta, Slovenia and Turkey. Organisations with a
designated areas. In Cyprus the Cyprus Land
Apart from these two issues which are of concern to
States, 98.4% of dwellings have running water, 97.8%
similar remit also exist in Finland and Portugal.
Development Corporation and the Housing Finance
policy makers across Europe, there is a perceptible
have a lavatory and 96.8% have a bath or shower. The
Corporation are tasked with enabling low-income
difference between the recent housing policy
equivalent figures for the 10 new EU member States
Section 3 of this report includes a detailed review of
families to access housing. In addition, as was
developments in the 15 countries which were EU
are 91.1%, 82.6% and 80.8% respectively. Moreover,
recent housing policy developments in European
mentioned earlier in this Section, in several countries
members prior to 2004, compared to the 10 new EU
the inclusion of Malta and Cyrus, where the
countries. This review highlights a number of pan-
the converse problem of vacant and abandoned
members and the three applicant countries. Amongst
proportion of dwellings with basic facilities is
European housing policy trends, which are common to
housing and low housing demand is also the focus of
the latter group, policy makers in the 8 CEE countries
comparatively high, increases these average figures
the majority of the 28 countries under examination.
attention from policy makers.
which joined the EU in 2004, and in Bulgaria and
considerably.
Other issues are currently the focus of policy
Romania, share a particularly discrete set of concerns.
1.4.2 Policy
interventions in a specific group of countries
(international policy trends), or in a single European
Measures to promote the renovation and improved
maintenance of the housing stock have also been
This phenomenon reflects the distinctive political
histories and recent economic and demographic
country (national policy trends).
introduced in most European countries in recent years.
development of these countries in comparison with the
TABLE 1.4.4 summarises the key aims of housing policy
Among the long-standing EU member States, the
15 long-standing EU members.
in the 28 countries under examination. In most cases
Unbalanced housing demand and supply, and related
refurbishment programmes introduced in Ireland and
these statements of aims are derived from the policy
affordability problems particularly in the major cities,
the United Kingdom are distinctive because both target
In many of the 15 long-standing EU members, housing
programmes of current governments. However, several
is currently the focus of policy initiatives in the vast
the social housing sector. Ireland, Luxembourg,
policy currently places significant emphasis on
of the new EU member States and applicant countries
majority of European countries. However, the extent
Germany and Portugal have also established more
expanding the stock of private rented housing, which
have devised detailed national housing policy
and nature of this problem varies between countries as
wide-ranging refurbishment programmes, which
is recognised as an important resource, particularly in
statements which specify the objectives and the
do the policy interventions it has inspired. Unbalanced
address other housing tenures. Policy makers in many
the major cities where rents are high and housing
arrangements for implementation of housing policy
housing demand and supply exists across the housing
of the new member States and applicant countries are
affordability is consequently lower. In response, the
10 European Union Report
Regular National Report on Housing Developments in European Countries
11