Tenure insecurity related to land and housing is escalating globally, including across Europe, posing serious challenges for many individuals and families. The 2024 Prindex Report reveals that approximately 1.1 billion adults—or 23% of the worldwide population—feel uncertain about their property rights, a significant increase over the past four years. In Europe and Central Asia, nearly one in five adults (19%) report feelings of insecurity regarding their housing stability. This concerning trend correlates strongly with rising rent and mortgage costs, which serve as key factors contributing to the perception of insecurity in the region. As financial pressures continue to mount, understanding the nuances of tenure insecurity across different European countries has become increasingly vital.
The report highlights Turkey and Greece as notable outliers, exhibiting insecurity levels that exceed 35%. Ukraine follows closely, experiencing a staggering rise in perceived tenure insecurity since the onset of the Russian invasion, which has severely disrupted living conditions. Anna Locke, the co-director of Prindex, emphasizes that in Turkey, the shift from homeownership to rental arrangements coupled with concerns about landlords’ agreements add layers to these anxieties. Greece presents a similar picture, where economic challenges and declining living standards persist despite broader recovery efforts. Financial instability is a common thread in these cases, resulting in greater fears surrounding housing security.
The findings underscore the alarming surge in tenure insecurity in Ukraine, which escalated dramatically from 10% to 33% from 2020 to 2024, largely due to the devastating outcomes of the ongoing conflict. Similarly, Greece reported an increase in perceived insecurity from 16% to 35% within the same timeframe, driven by systemic economic challenges and aggressive foreclosure policies. Such conditions have deepened worries among homeowners and renters, culminating in a critical situation where individuals and families face uncertainties about their homes. These trends reveal a growing urgency for responsive measures to address the plight of vulnerable populations in these nations.
Among the various reasons for tenure insecurity identified within the report, financial pressures take precedence. While conflicts are also a contributing factor, the data indicates that inability to meet rent or mortgage obligations is widespread throughout Europe and Central Asia. The reasons behind these insecurities include fears of eviction, which was cited by around 10% of survey respondents, and financial constraints, mentioned by 9%. In Turkey, a significant 31% of respondents expressed worries about being asked to vacate by owners or landlords, exacerbated by a rent cap that has led to violent disputes in some instances, illustrating a dramatic landscape of challenges facing tenants.
The report calls for urgent global action, indicating that the current trends reflect a regression away from achieving equitable land and housing rights as stipulated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Malcolm Childress, lead author of the report, underscores that tenure security is not exclusively an issue for lower-income nations; many individuals in developed countries are similarly affected by financial instability, eviction threats, and rising levels of conflict, which undermine basic property rights.
To combat these pressing issues, the report proposes several targeted policy recommendations to help restore tenure security. Among these are the implementation of financial safety nets and social protection measures aimed at assisting renters and homeowners facing economic difficulties, as well as the expansion of affordable housing initiatives. The need for increased attention to gender disparities is also highlighted, revealing that women are disproportionately less likely to secure property rights compared to their male counterparts. The report stresses that addressing the rising costs associated with housing within the EU is imperative as well, given that the proportion of income dedicated to housing expenses has surged over the last two decades, further complicating the landscape of tenure insecurity.
