Eurofound has revealed extremely low affordability of homes for youth in Spain

In Spain, only 1.2% of rental housing in cities can be considered affordable for young people. In contrast, the figure is almost 20% in France and around 30% in Germany. These findings come from a report by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound).

Experts identify young people as one of the most vulnerable groups in the housing crisis, as those aged 18 to 39 typically have lower incomes and more unstable employment. Housing is defined as affordable if rent does not exceed one-third of the average salary of young tenants. In most EU countries, the share of such listings does not exceed 15%, but Spain lags well behind Europe’s largest economies.

In Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal and Slovakia, there are virtually no rental properties affordable for young people, with the share below 0.5%. Only seven of the 24 EU countries analysed recorded a figure close to 10%.

Housing has become so unaffordable for young people that in many regions of Spain, Portugal, Poland, Ireland and Bulgaria, a young person would need to spend more than 80% of the average salary on rent. In coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula, this share exceeds 100%, meaning that renting an independent home is practically impossible.

As a result, the number of young people continuing to live with their parents is rising. Across the EU, nearly one-third of people aged 25 to 34 live in the parental home. In Spain, this figure reaches 46%. In France, it is around 16%, in Germany 12%, and in Denmark and Finland, just 3%.

“Young Europeans are facing this crisis at a crucial stage of their lives, forcing many to choose living arrangements they would not otherwise opt for, such as staying with their parents. As a result, they miss out on opportunities for professional and educational development, which negatively affects their health and wellbeing and influences their decisions about starting a family,” the report states.

Experts are calling for the housing crisis to become a priority in public policy, including through expanding the construction of affordable housing and bringing vacant properties back into use.