Living (Housing)
The ‘living’ (housing) sector plays an increasingly important role in the wider institutional real estate portfolio, driven by urbanisation, demographic change, and structural undersupply across Europe. As demand for sustainable, affordable housing grows, it offers investors resilient, long-term growth that aligns with both environmental and social goals. The living sector encompasses all forms of residential real estate, including (affordable) housing, senior living, and student housing— addressing the diverse housing needs across different stages of life.
This page brings together all our resources, insights, and data on living real estate — helping you stay informed on market trends, regulation, and best practices in this dynamic and evolving sector.
Insights: painting a clearer picture
In 2024 and 2025, INREV published a series of research papers exploring opportunities, challenges, and solutions for institutional investment in European residential real estate.
Housing middle income Europe: The first and only paper of its kind, positioning Private Rented Sector (PRS) within the wider housing market landscape. .
Unlocking affordable PRS: This paper outlines the scale of non-listed residential PRS investments using INREV’s proprietary index and survey data — including performance, risk, and the effects of decarbonisation on returns.
Solving Europe’s housing challenge: Examination of public and private initiatives shaping the sector — from funding and tax incentives to land availability and planning processes.
Coming in Q1 2026: The fourth paper in the series will continue to build on these insights.