26 June 2008
IUT President Warns of World Wide Housing Shortage

The NFTMO Conference this year was opened by Sven Carlsson , the President of the International Union of Tenants (IUT).  The NFTMO are one of fifty-five IUT member organisations in 45 countries around the world. Membership of the IUT is growing each year. Sven explained “ I think that the increase is due to the fact that tenants all over the world are facing harder times, meaning higher rents and insecure tenure ”

Sven picked out the shortage of affordable housing as a key concern across the world. “ The lack of affordable housing is primarily a threat to social justice and stability.” he told delegates “ and has been highlighted in Europe as an obstacle to labour mobility and economic growth. In major cities the lack of affordable housing has contributed to the stagnation of economic progress and continues to be one major ingredient to increased social exclusion and hinders integration.”