An expert estimates that 20 to 30 percent of the Hungarian population lives in housing deprivation, which means that they have difficulties with paying their housing costs, live in poor quality or overcrowded housing. They are living in tenure insecurity, or the location of their dwelling is unfavorable. As trends of housing deprivation are stable in recent years, we can speak about a severe housing crisis. In comparison to other Visegrád countries (Czechia, Poland, Slovakia) housing deprivation. The statistical data shows that housing deprivation is the highest in Hungary. The nation-state is a crucial actor in offering a national framework for housing policies and legislation and the role of local governments are also important players in decreasing housing poverty and housing-related inequalities with just local policies and local legislation. It is fact that a successful housing policies have always been based on a large share of public property. Housing policies must be focused on property relations, not simply on financial transfers to individuals. The private property market, made more equal merely through taxation or regulation has never solved housing crises. Everyone knows that everyone has a right to affordable, good quality housing, as this is a basic human need and total responsibility of nationally and locally state as to guarantee this human right.

The nation state is a crucial actor in offering a national framework for housing policies and legislation. Local governments are also important players in decreasing housing poverty and housing-related inequalities with just local policies and local legislation. This study summarises which room for maneuver local governments have in Hungary for putting forward progressive housing policies under the current national legislative framework. As municipal elections have taken place in October 2019, it is relevant to look back to recent developments in terms of housing and look forward to the next five-years term of elected municipal leaders throughout the country. Apart from this English paper a longer Hungarian version was also published recently (Czirfusz 2019).