EHF urges EU to focus on renovation of existing housing stock

RICS and other members of the European Housing Forum will urge EU Ministers today to focus on the renovation of existing housing stock as a means of raising Europe’s living standards, creating employment and ensuring quality, decent and affordable homes for all. EU Housing Ministers are due to meet today in Toledo at meeting organised by the Spanish EU Presidency.

The forum is calling for the inclusion of housing as a priority in the second EU energy efficiency action plan; and the inclusion of housing for excluded segments of the population and urban development in the post-2013 European Cohesion Funds.

Co-chairing the European Housing Forum, RICS Management Board Member, Ian Perry FRICS said: 'The Spanish presidency could not have chosen a better topic for the informal meeting of EU Housing Ministers. The focus on the renovation of the existing housing stock tackles several key challenges that are facing governments today.'

In the current financial instability and with the increasing cost of credit, many housing providers and homeowners have serious difficulties to rehabilitate existing homes and adapt them to the needs derived from demographic changes, such as ageing and immigration, or to meet the agreed energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets in 2020.

The Forum wants to encourage policy-makers at local and national level to adopt appropriate policies focused on changing consumer behaviour through political leadership, especially at the local level and effective measures such as financial incentives for homeowners, tenants and landlords, cheaper long-term finance and other innovative financial tools.