Avoiding renovictions in European cities

Policy Study

Europe faces a dual challenge: the climate crisis and a persistent housing crisis, both of which converge in the urgent need to renovate aging urban housing stock. While energy-efficient renovations are essential to meet EU carbon-neutrality targets by 2050, they risk triggering “renovictions”, the displacement of vulnerable residents due to rising rents and property values.

This policy study shows how these renovictions can be avoided. This policy study summarises the scientific literature and surveys best practices and cautionary tales from three cities across Europe: Amsterdam, Athens and Paris. These are three large capitals, with historic centres protected by heritage status and facing the pressure of (over)tourism.

This policy study recommends that tenants should not pay for renovations and identify alternative sources of funding for different types of housing. The overall principle is that any money entering the housing sector should remain in the housing sector.

The recommendations are intended for policymakers at the local and European levels. Local administrations should learn from each other, replicating successful policies like one-stop shops to accompany renovations. The EU should use the policy levers that it already has to coordinate and facilitate policies at the local level, namely, by simplifying existing funding options or setting up publicly backed loan guarantees. Incremental, locally adapted policies – supported by EU coordination – are essential to ensure that the green transition in housing does not come at the expense of social justice.

Policymakers must act to make European cities both sustainable and inclusive for all residents.