Story perspectives

Cyprus Tops EU Under-Occupied Homes; Experts Call for Smaller Housing

6/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Cyprus records the EU’s highest under-occupation rate at 69.4 % of residents living in homes with spare bedrooms.
Eurostat says 33.4 % of people across the EU live in under-occupied dwellings, with 40.5 % of owners versus 14.2 % of tenants under-occupying.
Researchers found that one- and two-person households, especially childless and higher-income ones, account for most under-occupied rooms.
FEANTSA argues that expanding the supply of smaller, affordable homes would be more effective than penalising under-occupation.

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Story summary

Cyprus records the EU’s highest under-occupation rate at 69.4 % of residents living in homes with spare bedrooms.
Eurostat says 33.4 % of people across the EU live in under-occupied dwellings, with 40.5 % of owners versus 14.2 % of tenants under-occupying.
Researchers found that one- and two-person households, especially childless and higher-income ones, account for most under-occupied rooms.
FEANTSA argues that expanding the supply of smaller, affordable homes would be more effective than penalising under-occupation.