The European Commission presented a new proposal designated as the "Affordable Housing Act", which aims to give national governments and local authorities tools to address the housing crisis in Europe. The proposal comes in a context of growing concern about access to housing across the continent.
The measure opens the possibility of implementing more restrictive measures to curb short-term rentals and reduce the number of empty homes, giving municipalities more intervention power. This approach aims to respond to criticism that current rules are insufficient to regulate the real estate market.
In an interview with Expresso, the European Commissioner for Housing acknowledged that the proposal does not solve the entire housing problem in Europe. However, he expressed his conviction that the measure can contribute to lowering housing prices and help combat real estate speculation.
