Researchers are calling for urgent reforms after documenting widespread substandard housing conditions, with over one-third of Luxembourg renters living with mould and families squeezed into single-room studios, amid complex rental regulations.

A new study by the University of Luxembourg has revealed alarming housing conditions faced by tenants in the private rental market, presenting findings that extend beyond well-documented affordability crises.

The research, unveiled Tuesday in the presence of Minister of Housing Claude Meisch and Tenant Protection Association representatives, exposes widespread substandard living conditions through quantitative data and personal testimonies.

The report, titled "The Tenant Experience on Luxembourg's Private Rental Market", analysed 262 tenant correspondence cases and conducted five focus groups with 32 participants. The data reveals troubling living condition: with one out of five respondents reporting problems, 34.3% of them reported mould or damp issues in their rentals. Nearly a quarter of them (22.4%) experienced inadequate heating systems, while an equal percentage cited structural deficiencies in their dwellings.

RTL

One of the researchers from the University of Luxembourg pictured at the presentation of the report / © Gaël Arellano/ RTL Luxembourg

Researchers highlighted poignant testimonies during Tuesday's presentation, including one tenant's statement: "The rental system in Luxembourg is making us consider moving back home." Particularly affected are vulnerable groups such as families with children.

The report documents one mother's account of sharing a single-room studio with three children, where only the toilet is separated from their shared sleeping space: "I left home with my three children and spoke to my landlord, who owns several houses, and she gave me a studio flat. I live there with my children, it's very small. We're all in the same room, only the toilet is separate. We have a bunk bed, the two little ones sleep downstairs and the oldest sleeps upstairs. I sleep next to them."

The study identified the return of security deposits as one of the most prevalent issues plaguing Luxembourg's renters. Analysis of tenant correspondence revealed widespread anxiety about deposit recovery, with one discussion group participant stating: "We don't know if we'll get the deposit back from our old flat." The problem compounds for tenants unfamiliar with Luxembourg's complex rental regulations.

"The law is so intricate that it's often difficult to navigate", another participant noted – a sentiment echoed by the Tenant Protection Association, which frequently requires legal intervention to resolve deposit disputes.

To mitigate these issues, researchers advocate for multipronged reforms including consumer education materials, standardised communication tools between tenants and landlords, and targeted assistance programmes for at-risk renters.