Finding a home in Luxembourg is becoming increasingly difficult for a growing number of people – a trend reflected in the recent Politmonitor poll, in which 70% of respondents cited housing as one of their top concerns.
On Thursday, 30 non-governmental organisations and private individuals presented a joint declaration calling for housing to be recognised as a human right and urging the government to take concrete action. They described the situation as a "permacrisis" – a long-entrenched problem that continues to worsen.
According to the initiators, led by Amnesty Luxembourg, the housing crisis extends far beyond a lack of affordable living space. Esmeralda Wirtz argued that housing is a fundamental human right and that all human rights are interconnected. When one right – such as the right to housing – is compromised, others are likely to be affected as well. She cited the right to health as an example: living in unsanitary or mould-infested conditions directly impacts physical well-being. Similarly, the right to education can be undermined if children, lacking decent living standards, fall ill more frequently and miss school. "All human rights are connected, and the right to housing greatly affects all other rights", Wirtz stated.
For this reason, the more than 30 signatories no longer refer to a mere housing crisis but to a "permacrisis" – a situation that has become entrenched over the years and is steadily deteriorating. Guy Foetz, former politician for the Left Party (Déi Lénk) and member of the association "Solidaritéit mat den Heescherten" (Solidarity with Beggars), said the problem no longer affects only low-income households but is increasingly impacting young people and segments of the middle class.
Foetz warned that the situation is gradually having serious economic consequences, as people are either choosing not to settle in Luxembourg or are leaving due to the unaffordable housing market. This applies to young people, students, and others who are deterred by high costs, he added. Foetz also noted that up to 18 evictions take place each month, raising the question of where those affected are expected to go. He pointed out that emergency accommodation is scarce and that municipalities show little willingness to address the issue.
To achieve a sustainable improvement, the signatories argue, housing must be treated as a fundamental right rather than merely as an investment.
Wirtz outlined a series of proposed solutions, including the use of municipal land for housing construction, significant investment in social and affordable housing, and measures to ensure that existing building land – currently subject to speculation by its owners – is actually developed.
Beyond the state, the initiators also see considerable potential in municipalities. Foetz said they are calling on local authorities to make better use of their options to create affordable housing.
The initiators believe that more should be regulated by law, including a requirement for municipalities to allocate a portion of their land for social rental housing. Foetz cited Luxembourg City as an example, noting that it holds over 110 hectares of building land, has €1.2 billion in reserves and a budget surplus, and could put those resources to use – particularly as it receives 75% reimbursement when it builds social housing.
Additional demands include taxing empty properties, imposing stricter limits on land and real estate speculation, and strengthening tenant protections. The NGOs also criticise the lack of available data, arguing that effective policy requires better records of, among other things, how many homes stand empty and what the actual need for affordable housing truly is.
With their declaration, the initiators now aim to increase pressure on politicians to ensure that the housing crisis is treated as a priority and that proposed measures are not merely announced but swiftly implemented.
