World Habitat joins coalition to protect social housing in Hungary

World Habitat has joined a coalition of twenty-nine NGOs, trade unions and advocacy groups – working in the field of housing – to call for the withdrawal of a government proposal that would see a major loss in social housing stock in Hungary.

The proposed measure would enable current tenants of state and council-owned properties to be able to purchase their homes at a fraction – as low as 15 per cent of their value – without needing approval from the local government.

Commenting on the proposal, David Ireland, Chief Executive of World Habitat, said:

“Hungary already has one of the lowest social housing sectors in Europe. Experience tells us that pressuring low-income social tenants into owner occupation creates future financial hardship for people unable to afford the maintenance and repair costs that inevitably arise. Social housing is a precious resource that helps prevent housing poverty. These proposals take away that resource from future generations.”