HouseInc is a Horizon programme-funded project that will use innovative methodologies and approaches to analyse the interlinked dimensions of housing inequalities in 4 European countries.
Some of the key project tasks were to zoom in on specific current and future drivers and the manifestations of non-financial aspects of housing inequality, to close existing research gaps with a focus on empirical data analysis and collection, and look at future trends in housing inequalities through modelling. A particular focus was put on collecting data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy price crisis on housing inequality in regard to vulnerable communities.
Specifically, HouseInc partner imec (with the support of the University of Exeter, Fraunhofer ISI and ISAS) developed and conducted a multinational survey assessing the impacts of housing inequalities in 8 selected countries, asking housing-related questions to more than 20 000 respondents from Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Germany, UK, Romania, the Czech Republic and Italy. We here focus on the 3500 responses for 5 countries (Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Germany and Italy), using representative samples for each country (the other samples are not yet representative).
What did the survey gather / what was the research focus?
(a) the impact of housing inequality on mobility,
(b) the role of housing quality on energy poverty,
(c) the impact of energy poverty on work mobility, health and leisure outcomes, and
(d) the impact of smart digital technologies on energy use and energy poverty within marginalised communities.
Data such as where people live, their access to green space, their employment and ownership status, their view on the happiness ladder now vs in 5 years, dwelling size and construction date, public transport use, political orientation, experience of personal discrimination, parental contribution received, and much more – was gathered and some results are presented in our selection of graphics below.
Read the full analysis and discover all graphs below.
When trying to rent or buy an apartment or house in your country, have you ever felt discriminated against for any of the following reasons? (multiple choice)
Every fifth respondents reported to experience discrimination in the housing sector due to their income.
Respondents from Estonia reported a higher share of discrimination due to age, disability/chronic disease and education compared to the other countries.
Independent from the reason of discrimination, respondents from Finland and Belgium reported lower levels of discrimination than respondents from the other countries.
To what extent, if at all, did the COVID-19 pandemic influence your decision to move? (only respondents that moved since Feb2020 answered this question)
If respondents moved since Feburary 2020, we asked whether the COVID-19 pandemic was a reason to move. Across countries, only a minor share (17%) reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on their decision to move.
Have rising energy prices made you more conscious of energy conservation practices?
More than ¾ of the respondents across countries reported that the rising energy prices made them more conscious of energy conservation practices. Hence, on a positive side, the rising energy prices (often perceived as a burden) led to more consciousness on the individual level regarding energy saving. This is especially true for Italy and Estonia.
To what extent do you agree with the following statement? Home-ownership should be affordable for most of the population.
More than 75% of the respondents (strongly) agree that home-ownership should be affordable for most of the population – across countries.
Country-specific difference show a few more respondents from Estonia disagree with the statement than respondents from other countries. In Italy compared to the other countries, most respondents agree with the statement (82%). About every fifth person is undecided.
To what extent do you agree with the following statement? The government should do more to make housing (both renting and buying) more affordable.
80% of respondents (strongly) agree that their government should do more to make housing more affordable – across countries. In each country, more than 70% agree with the statement, less than 9% disagree.
To what extent are you satisfied with the current performance of your national government when it comes to energy renovation policies?
Across countries, the satisfaction with the current government regarding energy renovation policies is low. Only 12 % are (fully) satisfied and more than half of the respondents (52%) are (fully) dissatisfied.
To what extent do you trust national politicians (e.g. members of parliament, ministers) in your country to make good decisions when it comes to energy and housing policies?
The trust in national politicians regarding good decisions in the area of energy and housing policies is low. Across countries, more than half of all respondents (58%) distrust or tend to distrust their national politicians regarding decisions in this sector. Trust was reported most from respondents from Finland (24%, about every forth respondents). In the other countries, less than every fifth person has trust in the decisions regarding energy and housing policies.
We will present some more insights from our multinational survey in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned!
