The housing access crisis in Europe is linked to the actions of large corporations and investment funds. These transnational entities turn housing into a financial asset, inflating prices and limiting supply, which undermines the right to a decent home across multiple member states.
A prominent example is the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) investigation into the sale of 23 European Commission buildings in Brussels. The transaction, valued at around €900 million and closed in 2024, was flagged by the European Court of Auditors due to irregularities: the Belgian state company “SFPIM” was the sole bidder and submitted its offer before the auction officially opened. Searches in Commission offices in February 2026 highlight the lack of transparency in managing public assets.
In Malta, pressure from major developers on political authorities is also evident. The Developers’ Association (MDA) was accused of attempting to intimidate the government to block affordable housing projects and of receiving public land on favorable terms—practices that reduce public housing stock and fuel speculation.
In the Netherlands, opaque transactions limit housing access. The auction protocol proposed by the NVM association allows only the selling agent to know all bids, a system that consumer associations denounce as prone to manipulation. Alongside the conversion of homes into tourist rentals, these practices raise housing costs.
The impact on the population is significant. According to Eurostat, housing prices in the EU have increased by around 60% since 2010, and nearly 10% of Europeans now spend more than 40% of their income on housing. The European Commission is preparing a plan to combat speculation, addressing the financialization of the sector and preventing “selfish” practices, according to Commissioner Dan Jørgensen.
References:
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Home owners say NVMS bidding plan is open to manipulation (Dutchnews)
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‘MDA bullying government buyers sustain monopolu’ – Il-Kollettiv protest (TImes of Malta)
