Just 1.9 square meters. That is the surface area a 25-year-old with an average income can afford to purchase in Stockholm, according to calculations carried out by property developer Riksbyggen. A figure that starkly illustrates the scale of the housing crisis affecting new generations in the Swedish capital.
Faced with this situation, political parties represented in Stockholm have begun putting forward proposals to make it easier for young people to access housing. While the specific solutions vary depending on the party, there is a degree of consensus that the problem requires urgent, structural measures.
Stockholm’s property market has for years been one of the least accessible in Europe for young workers, with prices that have grown far beyond wages. The shortage of affordable rental housing and the long waiting lists for rent-regulated apartments further compound the outlook for those trying to live independently.
Political debate centres on measures such as increasing the construction of social housing, relaxing planning regulations, improving access to mortgage credit for younger buyers, and promoting new intermediate tenure models between renting and owning. However, translating these proposals into concrete policies remains the major unresolved challenge for local institutions.
Original source: SVT Nyheter