Looking for a place to live in our country has become an odyssey worthy of being immortalized in a movie, although in this case, even three hours of footage wouldn’t be enough, and it would fall into the horror genre.
In recent years, government agencies have launched (with varying degrees of success) several measures to alleviate a crisis affecting a large percentage of the Spanish population: price controls, assistance with mortgage down payments, and, most recently, the state-run affordable rental program Casa 47.
On Monday, the Spanish government launched the new Casa 47 website, through which citizens can search for and apply for rental housing at prices more affordable than those on the open market. The platform went live this week with more than 800 housing units throughout Spain, 93 of which are located in Catalonia and 25 in the province of Barcelona.
Rents range from €350 to €1,066 per month, depending on the municipality, the size of the home, and the average rent in that area. The goal is to offer tenants a home whose rent never exceeds one-third of their income and remains stable over time. To ensure this stability , leases will be offered with an initial term of 14 years, extendable up to 75 years.
A limited supply, but one that will gradually increase
One of the main criticisms leveled at this new public platform is the limited supply of housing, which falls far short of market demand. Government officials assure that the number of apartments listed will gradually increase each quarter and that another 1,500 units will be added soon. Municipalities such as La Ràpita (19 units), El Vendrell (17), Amposta (11), La Pobla de Mafumet (9), and even Lleida (7) have the most available housing.
The government has also emphasized that these homes “will never leave the public housing stock” and will be protected by law to prevent speculation, price gouging, or subletting for profit.
Requirements and How to Apply
To qualify for these housing units, applicants must meet three types of requirements : personal, financial, and location-based. Among the first—the most general—are holding Spanish citizenship or a residence permit, being of legal age, and not owning another home.
Financially, the household’s combined income must be between two and seven times the IPREM, that is, between €16,800 and €63,000 per year. Additionally, applicants must be current on their payments to the Tax Agency and Social Security.
Finally, the eligibility requirements boil down mainly to a proportional relationship between the size of the home, the number of rooms, and the number of tenants. To qualify for reserved or adapted housing, a disability certificate indicating a disability level of 33% or higher will be required.
