Social organizations aim to cover 20% of Illa's housing plan.

The Generalitat's social housing plan has the entire real estate sector on tenterhooks. The government's plans call for doubling Catalonia's current social housing stock by promoting 50,000 new apartments over a five-year period. While the mechanisms to activate these policies are being finalized, developers are taking positions. This is the case of the non-profit organizations grouped under Cohabitac, whose goal is to accelerate their housing production and purchasing capacity to cover 20% of the plan promoted by Salvador Illa's administration.

The residential market in Catalonia, and especially in Barcelona and its metropolitan region, is under constant stress. The supply of rental housing has shrunk drastically in recent years, and this situation has strangled prices, with sharp increases. Although the rent cap is beginning to take effect, prices remain sky-high. Illa's plan aims to provide a lifeline through a pending public policy in the autonomous community and, in Spain in general: social housing.

Cohabitac wants to develop 1,000 homes per year and buy another 1,000 by right of first refusal.

The latest OECD data show that public housing stock in Spain represents barely 1.1% of the total. This contrasts with the European average, which stands at 8%, and with the average for developed economies (7.1%). At the top of the ranking are countries that have been developing social housing stock for decades, such as the Netherlands (34.1%) and Austria (23.6%).

Cohabitac, chaired by economist Carme Trilla, is the coordinator of 17 foundations that promote and manage social rental housing in Catalonia. They currently directly manage approximately 5,000 affordable homes in the autonomous community, nearly 10% of the total, making them one of the main players in the market. The entity's manager, Xavier López, explains that its track record is backed by more than 15,000 social housing units for sale built in 20 years and 1,600 social rental units promoted with Next Generation EU funds.

The organization is promoting legislation for the sector with the Ministry of Housing.

Cohabitac's plans include developing 1,000 homes per year and purchasing another 1,000 apartments through preemptive rights. To develop these properties, these entities typically work with public agreements with administrations, providing a 75-year land-based right, with soft financing from the Catalan Institute of Finance (ICF) and public aid.

Salvador Illa's government took office determined to tackle the housing crisis. The main measure they have put forward is the creation of a public reserve of plots, comprising those held by Incasòl and those contributed by municipalities, to accurately determine the availability of land. Initial estimates by Territori, Habitatge i Acció Climática indicate that this strategy could lead to the construction of 20,000 social housing units. In addition, other measures are intended to encourage the participation of private operators. Among the most notable are an annual credit line of €500 million from the ICF (Spanish Institute of Housing and Urban Development) and compensation to companies and foundations for the difference between the cost of construction and the rental yield.

The social housing stock represents only 1.1% of the total, compared to the European average of 8%.

The Generalitat (Catalan government) has not yet clarified how it will allocate public land. The manager of Cohabitac hopes there will be a specific public call for non-profit organizations like those that make up his association, or that measures will be included that can positively discriminate against these entities. "Our foundations are focused on housing development. When we finish paying off the mortgage loans on the developments, we allocate all the income to new developments," he explains.

Cohabitac has met in recent months with the Minister of Housing, Isabel Rodríguez, to try to promote legislation for these types of entities. In Europe, they are known as social housing , while here the name "social housing providers" is being used. "We would like to have a clearer legal framework that reflects the specific nature of our organizations, both in terms of rights and obligations," explains López. Among other measures, they are considering giving them preference in the allocation of public aid, improving taxation, and exempting them from the status of large housing holders.

Furthermore, the coordinator of these entities also believes it is necessary for legislation to facilitate the creation of limited-profit housing developments. "To have a large social housing stock, you need an actor with significant financial capacity. This would also allow social housing developers to transfer assets and free up their resources for new developments," she asserts.