Beboelsespolitik

Beboelsespolitik, or housing policy, comprises government measures to ensure access to adequate, affordable, safe, and sustainable housing. It covers the full housing cycle, including production, maintenance, allocation, and tenure security, as well as related housing conditions such as energy efficiency and neighbourhood quality. The policy aims to reduce homelessness, promote social inclusion, stabilize rents, and support urban development.

Policy instruments include supply-side measures such as public housing stock, subsidies or tax incentives for construction, and value capture; demand-side measures such as housing allowances, income support, and rent subsidies; price regulation and tenancy protections; urban planning, zoning, land-use regulation; and standards for energy efficiency and housing quality. Public and non-profit actors, including housing associations and cooperatives, play a major role alongside private developers and lenders. Local governments often manage allocation and maintenance, while national governments set framework conditions and funding.

Contexts vary: in many welfare states, housing policy blends market mechanisms with social housing and tenant protections. Denmark, Sweden, and Germany illustrate diverse models, from large non-profit housing sectors to strong rent-regulation regimes. Policy evaluation uses metrics like affordability, housing stability, stock quality, and homelessness rates, as well as the share of income spent on housing.

Challenges include affordability pressures in urban areas, aging and energy-inefficient housing stock, financing constraints, and balancing market dynamics with social equity. Ongoing reforms commonly address energy efficiency, rezoning, and targeted subsidies to vulnerable groups.