(L-R) Léon Gloden, Minister for Home Affairs; Claude Meisch, Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning; Marie-Josée Vidal, First Government Advisor; Laurent Krantz, Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning; Frank Dimmer, Vice President of Resonord; Credit: MLOGAT

On Monday 10 November 2025, Luxembourg’s Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, Claude Meisch, took part in a meeting on housing sanitation, which brought together over 100 representatives from ministerial, municipal, social, academic and associative sectors, including 48 municipalities.

Organised by the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning, the meeting also featured contributions from the Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, as well as presentations by the Housing Observatory and social office for nine municipalities in the north of Luxembourg, Resonord.

The aim of the initiative was to assess the implementation of the law of 20 December 2019 on the sanitation, hygiene, safety and habitability of housing. After five years in force, the government launched an in-depth dialogue with municipalities and field actors to identify challenges, evaluate current practices and jointly develop a balanced and pragmatic reform, according to the ministry.

Discussions addressed key current issues, including: combating degraded housing in a tight rental market; strengthening controls and clarifying procedures between municipalities, health and housing authorities; promoting renovation and housing restoration aid; raising awareness among tenants and owners; reinforcing interinstitutional cooperation to ensure housing sanitation and dignity.

Municipal representatives highlighted a number of concerns regarding the current legal framework, such as definitions and scope of application, minimum surface requirements, declaration and inspection procedures, rehousing obligations, housing registers and sanction regimes. They underlined the importance of a pragmatic and balanced reform that avoids obstructing the rental market while ensuring the safety, health and dignity of residents.

The ministry recalled six fundamental pillars that will guide the reform of the housing sanitation law: protection of tenants and owners; definition of a mandatory legal minimum; simplification of procedures; transparency of housing conditions; financial and penal deterrent measures; and uniform training for municipal staff.

According to the ministry, the meeting marked an important step in the ongoing consultation process. The reform work will continue in the coming months, drawing on feedback from municipalities and sector partners.

EO