Conversion of offices into affordable housing: a report by BPIE for DG Environment

Conversion of offices into affordable housing

Font page of the report. At the top is the logo of the European Commission, the background is blue with the stars of the EU flag, in the middle is the title of the report. At the bottom are the names of the authors, October 2025, and the logo of BPIE
Type
Author
Lisa Graaf
Emily Bankert
Zsolt Toth
Publication Date
December, 2025
Country
Belgium
Language for original content
Scope

From a circular economy perspective, maintaining most of a building's structure is preferable to building a new one.

Repurposing offices into housing can expand affordable supply in high-demand areas while supporting inclusion and climate objectives.

This report aims to inform policymaking by exploring examples from various EU regions and identifying regulatory, technical, financial and social aspects that enable successful conversions of offices to affordable housing. It also highlights the multiple benefits of repurposing non-residential buildings into housing and provides insights into essential measures for scaling up such initiatives.