A commitment to acceptable levels of accommodation for all has meant that housing has normally enjoyed a high place on the agendas of most socialist countries. However this place has not always been undisputed, and housing has to compete with other welfare and economic requirements. As a result the housing policies in the Eastern bloc have not been uniform. This book examines issues related to housing in Eastern Europe. It describes the broad similarities and differences between East and West Europe, outlines trends in housing conditions since the war, and discusses the relevance of factors external to housing. The system of housing provision is seen to be contingent on various economic and social factors, and so the current changes in so many aspects of the Eastern European political scene are seen to be of vital significance for the future of housing.