Representatives of the Barcelona real estate market offer the new government opportunities for cooperation between the private and public sectors in advance. The government itself will be determined only in May as a result of municipal elections. It is already clear that the priority in the new policy will be affordable housing for the general population of Catalonia.
The business is ready to cooperate, seeing for itself the prospects for such development and understanding the dangers that are created in the sector due to the lack of affordable residential real estate options for the average buyer. In addition, such cooperation, in the hopes of the private sector, will attract the attention of the authorities to a real solution to the problem of squatting and insufficient legal protection of homeowners. If the market can offer affordable housing to people, then this will allow them to solve this problem without fear.
Market representatives consulted by Europa Press agree that affordable housing should be a priority for the sector and the authorities. Xavier Vilayoana, President of the Association of Developers of Catalonia (Apce), Maria Andreu, CEO of the Association of Homeowners in Alkilera (Asval), Eduard Mendilus, CEO of Antipa Real Estate and Aliseda Inmobiliaria, as well as Maria Matos, Director of Research at Fotocasa, agree with this.
Xavier Vilayoana (Apce)
Vilayoana called for an increase in the number of affordable social housing, primarily apartments. In his opinion, in order to solve this issue, the authorities need to mobilize resources for the registration of new land plots for development. A sufficient number of developers are ready for new projects, but the shortage of free land on the market and bureaucratic delays with the approval of a new one significantly affect the plans of companies.
Public-private cooperation in the use of subsidized housing can create more than 20,000 new residential facilities. Vilayosana also spoke negatively about the old decision of the Barcelona authorities, which required developers to leave up to 30% of apartments in new residential complexes for social housing. Many market participants found such conditions unprofitable, so they abandoned various construction projects. The policy of the authorities was disrupted, and people were left without housing.
Maria Andreu (Asval)
Andreu also calls for cooperation between the public and private sectors to expand the social housing fund. She recalls that there are already a number of proposals from the state that are resonating in the market. Thus, large homeowners in Catalonia are ready to transfer up to 25,000 residential properties to the state for 25 years and at a price 20% lower than the market.
She notes that the housing problem affects the whole of Spain. The situation in Catalonia and Barcelona is an important factor in the development of the market. Overcoming the housing problem in the region will affect the success of overcoming it throughout the country and the private sector wants to be part of this process.
Maria Andreu also notes the serious problem of squatting in the regions. In 2021 alone, more than 4,200 cases of home seizure were recorded. The state should intervene, reform the laws and monitor their implementation. However, it is impossible to deny that without creating a sufficient social housing fund, power and regulatory solutions to the squatting problem will only deal with the symptoms, but not the disease itself. In addition, a successful social program, according to Andrey, will significantly improve the image of Barcelona.
Eduard Mendiluse (Anticipa Real Estate и Aliseda Inmobiliaria)
Eduard Mendiluse argues that the problem of social housing will be solved more effectively with the cooperation of the state and business. The Generalitat of Catalonia has considerable powers, but other forms of influence on the residential sector, such as cooperation between city councils and big business, have a great chance of success. Mendelus, as well as Andreu, recalls the proposal to transfer up to 25,000 houses to the authorities of Barcelona for 25 years. In his opinion, this will help to provide a roof over the heads of the most vulnerable segments of the population as soon as possible. He notes that the situation with household incomes and rising prices has become so serious that even the rental sector has noted a significant decline.