From Pandemic to Progress? Housing Deprivation Among Polish Households by Dwelling Type

The period encompassing the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with heightened attention to housing conditions and living environments. This study examines changes in housing deprivation among Polish households between 2019 and 2023, with particular attention to dwelling types. Housing deprivation is assessed through indicators such as leaking roofs, damp ceilings, moisture in walls or floors, and rot in window frames or doors. The analysis uses cross-sectional data from the EU-SILC surveys for 2019 and 2023. Binary logit models are applied, incorporating a time variable and a difference-in-differences approach. Findings reveal a notable decrease in housing deprivation in the analyzed period. Disparities between households in detached, semi-detached, or terraced houses and those in flats in large buildings have narrowed. Additionally, tenure status, income group, unemployment or disability within the household, and the age and education of household members significantly influence the deprivation risks. These results underscore the need for policymakers to design targeted interventions to further improve the housing conditions of Polish households.