Housing issue of young people in the WB6 – How to Solve It?

[danicamaks]

Yes, I do think this mindset will become more common in the future. As housing prices continue to rise, especially in larger cities, and the financial burden of buying property becomes more overwhelming, many young people will likely turn to renting as a more practical and flexible option. With wages not keeping pace with inflation and the cost of living, taking on a mortgage can feel like an unsustainable financial commitment, especially when the property itself may not even be a long-term investment. Renting offers more flexibility and less risk, allowing people to focus on other aspects of life, like career development or experiences, rather than being tied to a home. As this trend continues, it’s possible that the idea of owning a home might shift from a cultural expectation to more of a personal choice, depending on individual circumstances.

[katjon]

I have personaly expirianced gentrification. I don't know why would they want us out. I lived in my neighborhood for 3 yers and then landlords started rasing prices to make it more appelying to hier earning tenents.

[simonav]

I have personaly expirianced gentrification. I don't know why would they want us out. I lived in my neighborhood for 3 yers and then landlords started rasing prices to make it more appelying to hier earning tenents.

I am movieng to Germany for studys and apartmens there are almost the same price as here. Gentrification is the worst thing thay have ever done to us they are bringing foreigners and casting out their owen people.

[Dritonn]

I have personaly expirianced gentrification. I don't know why would they want us out. I lived in my neighborhood for 3 yers and then landlords started rasing prices to make it more appelying to hier earning tenents.

Gentrification is often seen as urban development, but in reality, it’s a double-edged sword that disproportionately affects lower-income residents. While it can bring investment, infrastructure improvements, and economic growth to neglected neighborhoods, it also leads to rising property values and rent prices, ultimately pushing out the very people who lived there in the first place.
At its core, gentrification creates a cycle of displacement. Instead of solving urban issues, it shifts them elsewhere, deepening economic inequality. If urban development truly aimed to improve cities for everyone, it would include policies that protect existing residents, such as rent control, affordable housing projects, and community-driven planning. Without these safeguards, gentrification is less about progress and more about exclusion.

[dionadidi]

Gentrification can be a tricky issue, but there are ways to solve it if we focus on both improving neighborhoods and protecting the people who already live there. One way to do this is by setting limits on how much rent can increase each year, so long-term residents aren’t forsed out due to rising prices. Building more affordable housing is also important—if there are enough low-cost options, it can help prevent displacemant when areas improve.
Another solution is community land trusets, which allow local people to take control of land to keep it affordable, instead of selling it to developers who would raise prices. It's also essntial to involve the community in urban planning. The people who already live in a neighborhood know its needs best, so including them in developmnt decisions ensures improvements benefit everyone, not just newcomers.
Finally, suporting local businesses can help maintain a neighborhood’s original character. Offering grants or other support can help small businesses survive in areas that are becoming more expensive. By putting these ideas into action, cities can grow in a way that benefits everyone, not just those moving in.

[dankom]

In Albania, job insecurity and lack of stability are major factors contributing to the housing problem. Many young people and even adults struggle with unstable employment, especially in a country where wages are low and job opportunities can be limited. Without a steady, reliable income, it becomes extremely difficult to afford decent housing. High rent prices, combined with low wages, create a financial burden, and people are often forced to either live with family or in less-than-ideal conditions.
The uncertainty of job contracts or working in temporary or informal jobs adds to the stress. Without the security of a long-term position, it’s hard to commit to a long-term lease, which often leads to renting in less stable living situations or moving frequently to find more affordable options. This constant flux makes it difficult for people to build any sense of stability or security, and the pressure from rising rents only makes the situation worse.
In many cases, people spend a large portion of their income just on housing, which leaves little for other essential needs. This can trap people in a cycle of financial stress, where the prospect of ever saving enough to improve their living situation feels out of reach. Until there’s more job security and better wages in Albania, the housing crisis will continue to be a significant problem, especially for young people trying to build their future.

[sneki]

The situation in North Macedonia is pretty much the same. Job insecurity and low wages make it really hard for young people to afford a place on their own. Many jobs are short-term or informal, so people cant plan for the future. Without a steady income, paying rent every month is risky, and buying an apartment feels almost imposible.
Rent prices, especially in Skopje, keep going up, but salaries stay low. This makes it really hard for people to afford decent housing. A lot of young people have to live with their families for longer than they want or move all the time to find somthing cheaper.
The job market also makes things worse. Many companies only give temporary contracts, so it’s hard to find a stable, well-paid job. Landlords don’t always want to rent to young people with unstable jobs, which makes things even more difficult.
Just like in Albania, people in North Macedonia spend most of their income on rent, leaving little money for other needs or savings. It feels almost imposible to become independant. Until salaries go up and jobs become more stable, housing will keep being a big problem for young people in North Macedonia.

[aleksltd]

There’s no simple fix to expensive housing, but there are a few things that could help make it more affordable. One of the biggest issues is that wages aren’t keeping up with rent prices, so improving salaries and job stability would make a huge difference. If people earned more, they wouldn’t have to spend such a huge part of their income just on housing.
Another solution is better government policies, like rent control or incentives for building more affordable housing. In many places, landlords raise prices without any real reason, just because they can. Some kind of regulation could help stop extreme price increases and make sure people aren’t forced out of their homes due to rising rents.
More investment in public housing could also help. Instead of only relying on private developers who focus on expensive apartments, governments could build affordable housing options for people with lower incomes. This would give young people and families a chance to live somewhere decent without going into massive debt.
Lastly, encouraging people to move to smaller cities could take pressure off big urban areas where rent is highest. If governments and businesses invested more in smaller towns, people wouldn’t feel forced to live in overcrowded, overpriced cities just to find work.
None of these are quick fixes, but if these ideas were taken seriously, housing wouldn’t have to be such a struggle for so many people.

[laki67]

I get where you’re coming from, and these solutions sound great in theory, but in reality, they’re really hard to put into practice. Raising wages sounds like a simple fix, but if salaries go up too fast without the economy keeping up, businesses might struggle, leading to layoffs or higher prices for everything else. It’s not just about paying people more—there has to be economic growth to support it.
Rent control sounds like a good idea too, but in a lot of cases, it actually backfires. If landlords can’t raise rents over time, they might stop maintaining properties properly, leading to worse living conditions. It can also discourage developers from building new housing because they won’t see enough profit, which in the long run could make the housing crisis even worse.
As for public housing, that requires a lot of government funding, and let’s be honest—many governments, especially in the Balkans, don’t have the resources or the political will to invest enough in affordable housing projects. Even if they did, these projects take years to complete, and people need solutions now.
Encouraging people to move to smaller cities sounds nice, but the problem is that most job opportunities are still in bigger urban areas. Unless governments and companies invest massively in developing these smaller cities, people won’t just move there willingly. They need work, education, healthcare—things that are often lacking outside major urban centers.
So while these ideas could help in an ideal world, the reality is way more complicated. Housing is expensive because demand is high, and unless something big changes in how economies work, there’s no easy way to fix it.

[stralealeks]

I wouldn’t be so pessimistic about them. Just because something is difficult doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
For example, raising wages doesn’t have to happen overnight. It can be a gradual process, tied to economic growth. Other countries have managed to increase salaries without causing major problems, so why wouldn’t that be possible here too? If businesses pay workers better, people will have more spending power, which can actually boost the economy instead of hurting it.
Rent control is tricky, but it doesn’t have to mean landlords stop maintaining properties. Some cities have managed to implement fair rent policies that stop extreme price increases while still allowing for gradual, reasonable adjustments. And developers will still build if there are incentives for affordable housing—governments just need to offer the right support.
Public housing might take time and money, but it’s an investment that pays off in the long run. If governments can find money for other projects, they can prioritize housing too. And while smaller cities don’t have as many jobs right now, that doesn’t mean they never will. With better infrastructure and investment, they could become real alternatives to overcrowded big cities.
Of course, none of this is easy, but change doesn’t happen overnight. Instead of just accepting that things are bad, we should be looking at what can be done, even if it takes time.

[Ajla-87]

I think one big reason youth in the Western Balkans struggle with housing is because many have become dependent on their parents for too long. A lot of young people stay at home well into their late 20s or even 30s, not necessarily because they want to, but because it’s the norm here. Since it’s common to rely on family for financial support, many don’t develop the same level of independence as in other countries where moving out early is expected.
The problem is that when they finally do want to live on their own, they often realize how unprepared they are—rent prices are high, salaries are low, and saving enough to afford a place feels impossible. Instead of learning early how to manage rent, bills, and financial responsibilities, many end up stuck in a cycle where moving out feels unrealistic.
Of course, it’s not completely their fault—the economic situation is tough, and housing isn’t exactly affordable. But at the same time, this culture of relying on parents for so long makes it even harder for young people to break away and become independent homeowners or renters.

[En-nur]

Yeah, I totally get this because I’ve been through it myself. I stayed with my parents way longer than I wanted to, just because rent was way too expensive, and my salary wouldn’t have covered everything on my own. At first, it felt normal because that’s just how things are here—everyone stays with family for as long as they can. But after a while, it started feeling like I was stuck.
The worst part is that when you finally try to move out, you realize how unprepared you are. You’ve never had to deal with rent, utilities, or just managing everything on your own, and suddenly it all feels overwhelming. And by that point, prices have already gone up so much that even if you want to be independent, it’s nearly impossible.
I don’t think it’s just about people being lazy or unwilling to move out—it’s more about how we’ve all grown up in this system that makes us dependent. And once you’re used to it, breaking out of it is so much harder than it should be.

[slavko99]

Yeah, that’s true, but I think part of the reason we’re so used to staying with family for so long is because that’s just how it’s always been in our culture. If you look at history, men would usually bring their wives into their family home, and daughters would move in with their husbands and his parents. It wasn’t expected for young people to live on their own—family units stayed together, and that was considered normal.
Even now, a lot of that mentality is still around. Parents don’t really expect their kids to move out early, and honestly, many don’t even want them to. It’s comfortable, and financially, it makes sense, especially when wages aren’t great, and rent keeps going up. The problem is that the world has changed, and this way of living doesn’t work as well anymore. Jobs are different, housing is expensive, and people want more independence, but we’re still kind of stuck in that old way of thinking.
So, it’s not just about personal choice—it’s a whole cultural shift that’s taking longer to change. Breaking out of that system isn’t easy when everything around you is built to keep it going.

[martabab]

I wanted to start a discussion on the housing crisis in the Western Balkans. Rent prices are rising rapidly, wages aren’t keeping up, and homeownership is becoming a distant dream for young people. In cities like Belgrade, Sarajevo, and Tirana, it feels like landlords can raise rent whenever they want, and there’s no real regulation. How did we get here, and what can be done?

[kadri6]

It’s simple: demand is high, supply is mismanaged, and there’s no oversight. More people are moving to urban areas, but instead of building affordable housing, developers focus on high-end apartments that most locals can’t afford. Meanwhile, wages have barely increased, so even renting is becoming a financial burden. I know people who spend over 50% of their salary just on rent.

[andreatra]

That’s the situation for most young people. Either you live with your parents well into your 30s, or you struggle to afford even a small apartment. And let’s not forget Airbnb – landlords would rather rent to tourists for short-term stays than to locals for long-term housing. It’s happening in every major city in the region, and it’s making the crisis even worse.

[popovica]

Airbnb is definitely part of the problem, but so is real estate speculation. A lot of these expensive apartments are bought as investments and sit empty while regular people can’t find an affordable place to live. Foreign buyers and money launderers are driving up prices, and governments aren’t doing much to regulate it. In some European countries, there are taxes on empty properties or restrictions on foreign buyers, but here, it’s a free-for-all.

[aleksk]

I agree with everything said so far, but the biggest issue is political inaction. Politicians aren’t motivated to introduce rent controls or affordable housing initiatives because many of them benefit from the current system. If we want real change, we need public pressure. Other countries have introduced rent caps and restrictions on short-term rentals after protests – why not here?

[frognjen]

Good point. The problem is that many people feel powerless. They don’t believe protests or activism will change anything. But if more of us spoke up, maybe we could push for better policies. What do you all think would be the best solution? Rent control? More public housing? Something else?

[thedark]

A combination of rent control, higher taxes on empty properties, and limits on Airbnb would help a lot. But enforcement is key—corruption is a big problem, and any new policies would need to be strictly regulated.