Understanding housing issues and satisfaction in Lithuania

ENThe aim of this study is to analyse housing issues and satisfaction in Lithuania, while taking into account policy makers’ viewpoints and the opinions of the population. To address our research goals, the analysis is based on a mixed method approach and combines both quantitative and qualitative data. Our analysis shows that high homeownership and consistent support for it have led to an increase in house prices and a decrease in the public social rental sector. This also created the conditions for the shadow private rental market to emerge and flourish. Despite the fact that high homeownership is associated with a number of problems in the housing sector, residents are very satisfied with their housing in Lithuania and this is directly related to homeownership. Homeowners are more satisfied with their housing than renters. To ensure housing rights, we need to maintain a balance between tenures (owner, tenant and tenant with reduced price). Nevertheless, the Lithuanian case shows that a high level of homeownership can be difficult to reverse into a balanced housing tenure due to high distrust in the private rental market, stigmatisation of social housing and deeply embedded attachment to homeownership.