Housing plan, housing emergency at the centre of two REbuild days

Housing is no longer just a social issue on the European agenda: it has become a structural node intertwining the competitiveness of territories, the labour market, urban sustainability and demographic resilience. This is the starting point for the twelfth edition of REbuild, the event dedicated to sustainable innovation in the built environment, scheduled for 12 and 13 May in Riva del Garda (Trento). This year the theme "Housing Remix. New solutions for living" brings together institutions, finance, industry and research to make living accessible, scalable and sustainable over time.

The context is one of increasing cost pressure, which has risen much faster than incomes in recent years. A dynamic that is putting a strain not only on households, but also on labour mobility, access to education and the economic attractiveness of cities. According to Eurostat, in 2024 more than 10% of the European population living in urban areas incurred housing costs considered excessive in relation to disposable income, with much higher peaks among young people and renters. In parallel, in the main Italian cities, rents continue to rise: according to Idealista, in March 2026 Milan exceeded 23 euros per square metre for average residential rents, while Rome exceeded 18 euros.

The theme of housing accessibility will cross all five strands of the event - Policies, Capital, Rules, Building and Living - with the aim of bringing institutions, finance, industry and research around the same table. "Today, housing is increasingly configured as an economic and social infrastructure," explained Alessandra Albarelli, General Manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, emphasising the need to build "a new housing agenda" capable of combining accessibility, sustainability and innovation.

One of the central themes will be the role of public policies and the Housing Plan: over the two days, the transition from emergency management to structural planning will be discussed, with the involvement of representatives of the Eu Housing Task Force, the Comunidad de Madrid, the Autonomous Province of Trento and the Municipality of Milan.

Besides policies, the crux remains financial resources. The sector is increasingly looking to European instruments - from the European Investment Bank to InvestEU - to support urban regeneration and affordable housing projects. The issue is particularly relevant in Italia, where a consolidated financing channel dedicated to affordable housing is still lacking. It is no coincidence that Cdp, Federcasa, Fondazione Housing Sociale, Assoimmobiliare and real estate finance operators will be among the protagonists of the debate.