In the coming days, the research company Prósent will email Efling members with foreign citizenship a link to a survey about their housing situation. The survey aims to gather data that can be used to improve the housing conditions of immigrants. Therefore, it is highly valuable that as many Efling members as possible take part.
Immigrants face disadvantages
It is well known that immigrants in Iceland are at a significant disadvantage in the housing market compared to native Icelanders. This has been repeatedly shown by surveys conducted by Varða – the Labour Market Research Institute. In Varða’s 2024 report, The Situation of Wage Earners in Iceland, it was revealed that only 29% of immigrants live in their own housing, compared to 75% of native Icelanders and 58% of Icelanders with a foreign background. Meanwhile, 43% of immigrants rent on the open market, while the rate is just under 10% among native Icelanders and 14% among Icelanders of foreign origin. Furthermore, 7% of immigrants live in employer-provided housing, compared to only around 1% in the other two groups.
Housing costs also weigh much more heavily on immigrants than on others. In total, 45% of immigrants said their housing costs were a heavy burden, and 39% said they were somewhat of a burden. This is a much worse situation than that of native Icelanders and Icelanders of foreign origin. Among native Icelanders, 27% said the burden was heavy, and 49% said it was somewhat of a burden. Among Icelanders of foreign origin, the figures were 33% and 45%, respectively.
It is also much more common for immigrants to have changed housing within the last five years than either native Icelanders or Icelanders of foreign origin.
Important data collection
These numbers clearly show how difficult the housing situation is for immigrants compared to other groups. That’s why gathering the best and most extensive data possible is vital to respond effectively and help resolve the problem. Efling members are therefore strongly encouraged to take part in the survey.
The survey is a collaborative project between the Housing and Construction Authority (HMS) and the trade unions Efling, Eining-Iðja, and VR. It takes about 4–5 minutes to complete. All responses are confidential and cannot be traced back to individual participants.