A Study made by Eurostat shows the differences within Europe in how we live in terms of size, kind, and quality of housing.
The 2020 edition of the Housing in Europe – the statistics displayed, provides an annual overview of the housing situation in the European Union. The figures show that in Portugal, 73.9% of people own their own home compared to 26.1% who rent it.
Relatively to the European scenario, the number of owners in Portugal is almost 4% higher than the average in the European Union. The preference of the type of housing in these groups among the Member States shows the same trend: most have chosen to live in houses rather than apartments. In Portugal, for example, just over half of the population lives in houses (54, 4%).
Another factor analyzed by the study was the quality of housing. For this, two aspects were considered: living in an overcrowded or under-occupied home. About 17% of the EU population lives in overcrowded houses, while Portugal has a lower number, at 9.5%. The opposite of an overcrowded home is an under-occupied home, meaning that it is deemed too large for the needs of the household living in it.
The classic cause of under-occupation is older individuals or couples remaining in their home after their children have grown up and left. In the EU in 2019, one-third of the population (33%) lived in an under-occupied house.
In 2010, in Portugal, the percentage was 24.7% but in 2019 an increase to 36.9% was noted. In addition, it was analyzed if housing is affordable in the EU. One way to verify this is measured by the housing cost overburden rate. On average, in the EU in 2019, 20% of disposable income was devoted to housing expenditure. In Portugal, the figure differed with a lower percentage (15.5%).
Another good news is the drop in the number of households with arrears in mortgages, rentals, or utility bills. In 2010 in Portugal, the percentage was 8.6% and in 2019 it became 5.8%. The study surveyed data up to 2019, so it does not portray the impact of Covid-19. Access the full study.
