Against the Tide: Prospects for Housing Affordability in Budapest and Europe

Housing affordability is a growing challenge across European cities, with important implications for social inequality and urban sustainability. Budapest illustrates this wider European challenge, as affordability has deteriorated and the private rental sector has become increasingly expensive and often insecure. The touristic use of residential properties has contributed to touristification and further pressured scarce urban housing, prompting responses such as stricter short-term accommodation regulation. Alongside these measures, Budapest is expanding its housing-policy toolkit through initiatives ranging from the conversion of vacant properties to measures addressing energy poverty and homelessness. Drawing on this experience, this talk will explore the scope for local action within limited municipal competences and resources, while reflecting on how national policies and an emerging European housing agenda can better support housing affordability.