Housing Reform Debates and Public Policy in Spain
A broad push from the national government and regional governments aims to strengthen the National Housing Agreement as a remedy for ongoing market barriers to housing access. At a session organized by the Madrid Real Estate Fair SIMA, officials from the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, the Community of Madrid, the Junta de Andalucía, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Valencian Community discussed the steps taken and noted their areas of agreement and disagreement. The agreement aligns with the new Zoning Law and its implementation timetable.
The Housing and Land general manager at the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, the body that enacted the new law, spoke with inviting candor. He emphasized shared goals and the urgency of action: the future hinges on coordinated effort. He noted that housing efforts have often lagged in past administrations, but now there is a wide consensus across political forces to advance a housing program. The clear message is that a housing deficit built up over decades is being addressed now.
Echoing that sentiment, Elena Azcarraga of the Generalitat Valenciana highlighted the challenges of a housing debate that remains highly polarized. Still, she pointed out that policy directions are broadly aligned, underscoring the need for increased budgets to expand the public housing stock.
Maria Jose Piccio-Marchetti, Director General of Housing and Rehabilitation in the Community of Madrid, expressed a hope that all administrations will ultimately find common ground to move forward together.
Administrative Concessions
In discussions held just before local and regional elections, public–private cooperation was identified as a viable path to grow the public housing supply while keeping rents affordable.
Projections included the construction of 10,000 homes over 2023 to 2026, with 2,155 of them to be brought online through direct initiatives with local land institutions. The plan also called for four thousand units to be delivered via Next Generation Funds in partnership with private sector players, according to Silvia Grau, Director of l’Agència de l’Habitatge de Catalunya.
Alicia Martínez from the Junta de Andalucía Housing Secretariat announced a bid to commission 3,500 apartments through long-term surface rights. She defended Andalucía’s social housing program, noting that it already operates Spain’s largest public housing network, manages about 75,000 homes including municipally owned stock, and that social housing serves a substantial portion of residents.
The Community of Madrid highlighted the 25,000 existing social homes plus an additional 6,600 under construction within the Plan Vive initiative. A new tender was announced to build 1,900 more homes in a public–private framework with subsidies supported by European funds.
Valencian authorities outlined a homebuilding model that relies on private partners Urbania and Visoren. Lands are transferred to these developers who will deliver roughly 1,090 units at rents below market levels.
Differences in Housing Law
Where the administrations diverge becomes apparent in how the Housing Law is implemented. A representative from the Ministry of Transport argued that housing policy cannot be solved by a single measure but requires a comprehensive approach that aligns with a broader regulatory package proposed by the national leadership.
Critiques from PP-led regions such as Madrid and Andalusia focused on rent caps and measures tied to occupancy. They warned that certain policies could inadvertently reduce the supply of rental homes and elevate prices, while also creating legal uncertainty.
Alicia Martínez argued that the new law concentrates power in autonomous communities, and she described the proposals as a pragmatic starting point for solving the housing challenge. She also drew attention to concerns in Andalusia about tourist housing and competition among municipalities.
The Valencia leadership defended central government measures as appropriate for the region, noting that the Zoning Law introduces emergency protections for vulnerable renters and aims to stabilize long-term access to housing. The aim is to prevent a future where public land and park assets are insufficient to meet demand.
Silvia Grau commented on the Catalan situation, noting that housing supply is tight and prices are high. She described a protective framework for tenants within a metropolitan context where rents remain under pressure. She argued that resources, especially funding, are essential to implement the law effectively. The spokesperson for l’Agència de l’Habitatge de Catalunya emphasized that the law should regulate pressured markets while improving access to housing and avoiding punitive outcomes.