Policy instruments and level of governance

This indicator summarises the types of policy measures towards affordable housing that exist in countries that responded to the 2021, 2019 and 2016 OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH). 1 This indicator also provides an overview of the different levels of government involved in the administration and funding of housing policy measures. Further details on the different policy measures can be found in other indicators in the OECD Affordable Housing Database section, “Public policies towards affordable housing.” Surveyed policy measures here included have been classified as follows: Support for homeownership and homeowners:  Subsidies, subsidised mortgages and mortgage guarantees to homebuyers to facilitate home ownership: These measures include one-off grants for the purchase of a residential dwelling, covering part or all the value of the dwelling. They are often reserved for first-time homebuyers with income levels below a given threshold who purchase dwellings with certain characteristics. These also include subsidised mortgages provided by or subsidized by the government, for the purchase of a residential dwelling; measures can also consist of down payment assistance or mortgage guarantees provided by the government (see indicator PH2.1).  Mortgage relief for over-indebted homeowners: Subsidies and measures to avoid foreclosure on residential dwellings that are owned by households in financial distress. These include subsidies for mortgage payments and payment of arrears, postponement of payments, refinancing mortgages, and mortgage-to-rent schemes (see indicator PH2.1).  Tax relief for homeowners: Tax deductions or tax credits granted to individual taxpayers for the purchase of their main residence. These may include tax relief measures such as mortgage tax relief or tax relief to first-time homebuyers for the costs (e.g. legal fees, disbursements and land transfer taxes) associated with the purchase of a home (see indicator PH2.2).  Support to finance housing regeneration: Tax deductions, tax credits and/or grants to finance the regeneration of existing residential dwellings (e.g. energy efficiency improvements, quality upgrades, etc.) (see indicator PH7.1).