Eurovision – Comparing Houses In Eurovision Countries

With Eurovision in full swing, we can feel the excitement in the air. A total of 37 countries are competing to come out on top.

Property expert Thomas Goodman from MyJobQuote.co.uk has decided to take a closer look at the housing market in some of these 37 countries to see how homes in several competing countries compare to homes in the UK.

With the current state of the housing market in the UK, it's quite interesting to see how UK homes compare to homes in several European countries. Below, Thomas goes into detail about homes in Belgium, France, Italy, Poland, and Spain.

Belgium

Belgium has a range of inhabitants who own a property outright, own property with a mortgage, rent privately and rent at a subsidised rate for those with lower incomes.

Around 40% of Belgians live in semi-detached houses, which is a staggering amount when compared to the UK, where just 32% of the population live in semi-detached properties.

The most common tenure type in Belgium is property owners with an outstanding mortgage. Private renters account for a relatively small proportion of the Belgian property market. This is quite different to the UK, where one in five households are now renting.

France

Renting a house or apartment in France is much more common than buying a property. In Paris, less than one in three inhabitants own their home, with the remainder renting. Buying prices are extremely high in the Paris area, so it’s difficult for many residents to own homes in the city. That is why renting is a much more popular option.

The longère is one of the most common types of house in France. This is a rectangular-shaped house made from traditional materials such as slate on granite. Most of these homes are one-storey but may have a converted attic to create a first floor.

Around 66% of inhabitants in France live in detached homes, which is considerably different to the UK, where only 23% of inhabitants live in detached homes.

Italy

Italian homes are commonly built from stone, brick, and concrete. Older Italian properties tend to have stone or brick walls, and newer homes are more commonly built with concrete walls.

Bathrooms in Italian homes tend to be much smaller than those found in British homes. Quite often, you’ll find a three-quarter length bath in an Italian bathroom due to the size of the room.

Italian homes tend to have higher ceilings than British homes. This could have a negative effect on utility bills. However, high ceilings provide an element of classiness and make the rooms feel less cramped.

Italian homes also most commonly have marble homes. This may seem quite grand to British homeowners. However, it’s quite normal in Italy as marble flooring helps to regulate the temperature in warmer months.

Over 50% of Italians live in apartments. This is quite different to the UK, where only around 22% of the population live in flats or apartments.

Poland

Some houses in Poland are made from brick, but a large majority are made from wood. Around one-third of Poles live in residential blocks of flats.

The housing market in Poland is quite different to the UK. Only around 20% of the residents in Poland live in rented homes. The remainder live in properties that they own.

Polish homes tend to be built for efficiency rather than style. Winter weather in Poland can become very cold, so homes are often built to remain warm during the colder months and to help residents save on their energy bills.

Spain

Most Spanish homes have flat roofs. This is a distinctive feature of Spanish buildings and differs greatly from UK homes. UK homes require sloped roofs for safety due to the amount of rain that we get here.

In Spanish apartment buildings, the higher the floor, the more expensive the property will cost. Top-floor apartment properties tend to be very expensive because they usually have a terrace with beautiful views outside the window.

Spanish houses are traditionally made from adobe, known as mudbrick. They also commonly feature wooden exposed beam roof supports that often extend, creating an outside veranda. The exterior of the homes are usually covered in stucco cladding.

Spanish homes look very different from UK homes in their appearance. Carpets are not very common in Spanish homes due to the high temperatures. Most of the time, Spanish homes will have cement or tiled flooring.

Around 65% of Spaniards live in apartments. This is quite different to the UK, where only around 22% of the population live in flats or apartments.

Comparing Property Prices

When comparing house prices in these five countries, we can see some considerable differences. The table below shows the average price per square metre in the capital city centre for each country as well as the average cost to purchase a flat.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are some considerable differences between the UK housing market and the housing markets of other Eurovision countries. In addition to various styles of homes, there are noticeable differences in house prices, house materials, and the number of residents that choose to rent or buy.

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Kim Jackson
contentteam@icmenterprises.co.uk

MyJobQuote connects homeowners with local tradespeople. Over 1 million homeowners and over 50,000 tradespeople use MyJobQuote nationwide each year. We can provide various content and comments regarding the trades industry, house renovation, interior design, construction, gardening and property. We have been featured in over 700 publications, including, The Times, Woman and Home, BBC News and more! We have many experts happy to discuss any of the above subjects.