Houses are for the people. Ban businesses from owning homes!
To the European Commission, the Commissioner for Internal Markets, and Heads of Governments in the European Union
Petition
We, the people from the European Union, are in need of urgent and decisive action to put an end to the inflationary spiral of housing, both for rent and for purchase.
We demand that the Commission and the Commissioner for the Internal Markets to limit the actions of companies as far as housing is concerned. We demand the freedom of movement of capital to have at least one limit: housing. That no private company anywhere in the world has the right to speculate with our homes, expel us from our neighborhoods and steal our savings and our future.
Why is this important?
House rent and purchase prices are rising alarmingly, making it almost impossible for many of us to live independently in Europe. [1]
Many young people are forced to remain in their parents' home. Even older couples with children return to live with their elderly parents as abusive rent prices become the norm.
Affording a home has become a luxury for most, even for couples. How can we create a family and a life project in this precarious situation?
Meanwhile, hundreds of agencies, investors, vulture funds and other companies that buy up entire buildings, kick out their neighbours and rent them out at inflated prices or in short-term tourist rentals. [2]
The European Commission defines how money, capital, flows - and it has the power to limit this kind of rampant speculation.
As a new Commission is being shaped right now, after the European elections, this is the right time for politicians seeking to lead the institution to learn what its constituents want: speculators get your hands off our right to decent homes! Will you join thousands of others?
References:
[1] Gimme shelter: Cost-of-living crisis squeezes Europe’ housing - POLITICO Europe
[2] The hottest political issue European politicians aren't talking about - POLITICO Europe