New Framework Measures Housing's Social Impact
Renters and residents across Europe can now compare how well homes deliver social value, though few professionals measure it yet.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Apartments
The Urban Land Institute Europe has launched a report and an accompanying framework for measuring the social impact of residential real estate. The report is aimed at developers, investors and managers across the residential lifecycle in Europe.
Why it matters
Housing outcomes such as affordability, community wellbeing and tenant experience are not currently measured consistently across the sector, which makes it hard to compare projects or hold them to account. A common method gives residents, investors and local communities a shared basis for judging whether new homes deliver social value beyond their bricks and mortar.
The report reviewed more than 40 major research studies and surveyed nearly 200 industry professionals across Europe, with interviews in six countries. Among respondents, 22 per cent have an established social impact measurement strategy, 65 per cent are still experimenting, and 7 per cent have no formal approach.
The players
Urban Land Institute Europe
The European arm of the Urban Land Institute, a global nonprofit research and education body for real estate and urban development.
CBRE Investment Management
A major global real estate investment manager with a large residential portfolio across Europe.
Hines
An international real estate developer and investment firm with residential and mixed-use projects worldwide.
MOME Living
A European residential developer and operator focused on rental housing.
The details
The report was built from three strands: a review of more than 40 research studies, a pan-European survey of nearly 200 industry professionals, and interviews across six countries. Case studies from Belgium, France and Germany test how the measurement approach works in practice. The framework is designed as a common method for assessing, comparing and benchmarking social impact at each stage of a residential project, and it was guided by a steering committee of practitioners from firms including CBRE Investment Management, Hines and MOME Living.
Timeline
The report and framework were launched on 3 November 2026.
The Home Front
The report extends the Urban Land Institute's established real estate research into social-impact measurement for housing, a area the sector has measured far less consistently than financial returns. It arrives as several European countries, including Spain, have seen large-scale housing protests over affordability.
If you rent an apartment, you can ask your landlord or property manager whether they measure tenant satisfaction, maintenance response and affordability outcomes. When comparing buildings, look for providers who can explain how they track social impact rather than relying on marketing claims alone.
The takeaway
Social impact in housing has so far been hard to compare, and this framework offers a shared starting point for measuring it. If you are choosing or managing an apartment, ask how the building or operator tracks outcomes for residents.
Further reading
For more on how rental and multi-family homes are being planned and managed, explore our Apartments coverage.
More information
You can download the ULI social impact report and framework directly from the Urban Land Institute Europe website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Urban Land.
