In response to the frustration among Luxembourg's youth about housing costs, a coalition of 13 youth organisations has called for a demonstration on Tuesday, 27 October at 3pm outside the Chamber of Deputies.
Maxime Pantaleoni, a spokesperson for the group and guest on RTL's morning radio, said that the protest aims to draw attention to the lack of prospects for young people. The coalition wants concrete measures on the rental market and a national commission to coordinate the response to the housing crisis.
Many young people cannot afford to buy property, and even renting is becoming prohibitively expensive. This year, average rents have risen by 6% nationwide and by up to 11% in the south of Luxembourg.
To illustrate the scale of the problem, Pantaleoni shared the example of a young woman who, after five years of law studies abroad, began working at a Luxembourg law firm. With a net starting salary of €2,400, she faces paying €1,300 a month, over half her income, for a room in Luxembourg City. A flat with a private bathroom costs as much as €1,800 per month.
Pantaleoni also highlighted the case of a nurse at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL). Despite earning a net salary of around €3,500, she was forced to leave the country due to high housing costs, initially paying €1,800 for a room with a private bathroom in the Gare district.
She later moved across the border but tired of the daily traffic jams, ultimately relocating to southern France, where her income is lower but her disposable income is greater. For crucial sectors such as healthcare, which already struggle with staff shortages, this trend is particularly worrying.
A central demand of the collective is the creation of a national commission on the housing crisis, to meet monthly under the leadership of the Prime Minister. This body should bring together the responsible ministers, representatives of municipalities (via the Association of Cities and Municipalities, Syvicol), and banking sector stakeholders.
The commission's purpose is to develop a plan that goes beyond a single legislative term, coordinating the implementation of measures and ensuring that pressure for reform remains high. Responding to concerns over the effectiveness of another commission, Pantaleoni emphasised the importance of regular coordination and shared awareness of the urgency of the situation.
The group is also calling for a reform of Luxembourg's rental law to curb excessive rents. Pantaleoni advocated an effective cap on rent prices, though details still need to be agreed with other youth organisations.
Another demand is the creation of a national register of vacant housing, to underpin a tax on empty properties. The collective also wants municipalities to play a more active role in addressing vacant homes. In total, the coalition will soon publish 13 demands.
Pantaleoni welcomed some of the government's recent steps, such as increasing the "Bëllegen Akt" (a support measure for affordable housing purchases), but voiced scepticism about tax incentives for investors, noting that similar approaches in the past have not delivered sufficient results. The group is therefore calling for a collective rethink and a greater sense of urgency in addressing the housing crisis.
The mobilisation began with a joint press conference by five political youth organisations, at which 12 demands were presented. Subsequently, the Young Socialists, Young Left, and Young Greens decided to take further action by engaging additional groups.
Pantaleoni stressed that the coalition now brings together a broad range of political perspectives, aiming to represent the interests of all young people in Luxembourg. Other youth organisations may join, but so far the youth wings of the governing parties have not taken part in the mobilisation.
Pantaleoni also drew attention to the wider impact of the housing crisis on society. Young people forced to move abroad by high prices lose time and energy commuting, which can reduce their participation in Luxembourg’s social life.
He added that if young families no longer see a future in the country, this is a loss for society as a whole.
Looking to international examples, Pantaleoni stressed that the planned demonstration is intended to be peaceful, aiming to mobilise young people and demonstrate that standing up for their rights is both possible and necessary.
The group does not intend this to be a one-off protest. Pantaleoni did not specify future plans, but said the collective would continue to work together, monitor political developments, and maintain pressure for concrete reforms.
