The study examines the historical and philosophical foundations of property as a cornerstone of liberty, the forces that have restricted access to home ownership, and the broader consequences for European society. It argues that restoring property ownership to its rightful place is essential for the future of liberal societies in Europe.
Europe’s housing crisis is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. In liberal societies, secure and accessible housing is more than an economic good. It is a cornerstone of personal freedom, civic participation, and social stability. When home ownership becomes unattainable for many, it undermines equality, weakens democratic trust, and turns property from a shared foundation of liberty into a mark of privilege, threatening the very fabric of liberal democracy.
This study, published by the European Liberal Forum in partnership with the European Policy Innovation Council (EPIC), brings together liberal perspectives on how to respond to these challenges. The future success of housing in Europe will not be built through paperwork, but through ambition. Let us make Europe the continent that made it possible for everyone to afford a home and build a life.