At a time when many European cities face a growing shortage of affordable housing, legal certainty and investor confidence are essential to increase supply and protect citizens. With the adoption of an ECR amendment in the final report of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the Housing Crisis (HOUS), Parliament has taken a clear stance against illegal occupation of homes across Europe, reaffirming the fundamental right to property.

Illegal squatting deprives lawful owners of the use of their property and undermines confidence among current and potential investors, further aggravating housing shortages.

ECR Committee Coordinator Antonella Sberna said, speaking after the adoption:

“A home is not a political experiment, and property rights are not optional. At a time when many Europeans struggle to access housing, tolerating illegal squatting undermines fairness and legal certainty. What is lawfully owned must be protected.”

ECR Shadow Rapporteur Georgiana Teodorescu said:

“When illegal occupation is tolerated, the message is that legality no longer matters. Europe must ensure fast and predictable procedures to recover property, protect owners and restore confidence for those willing to invest in housing.”

Adopted during the marathon vote on the HOUS own-initiative report on affordable and sustainable housing, the ECR amendment strongly condemns illegal occupation of private and public property and calls on Member States to ensure swift and effective legal mechanisms — including criminal sanctions where appropriate — to restore lawful possession. It also calls for stronger coordination at EU level and the creation of a European register of illegal occupation to improve data-sharing and help identify patterns, including cases linked to organised criminal activity.

For the ECR Group, addressing Europe’s housing crisis requires restoring legal certainty, protecting homeowners and tenants, and reducing regulatory pressures that continue to drive up housing costs across Europe.