HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

In an announcement made on Sunday, April 16, at a rally in the Valencian Community, Spanish prime minister and leader of the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez, stated that the Council of Ministers will approve the mobilisation of up to 50,000 homes from the Asset Management Company for Bank Restructuring (SAREB) for affordable rent. He has also promised to raise the percentage of public housing in Spain from 3 percent to 20 percent. This comes after the Socialists have set the bases for the May elections in the party's municipal conference in Valencia.

Sánchez has assured that the government is going to take further steps after carrying out the first state housing law. The plan of measures, which will be approved next week, will make 21,000 homes available to municipalities and autonomous communities, promote social rental with the 14,000 homes already inhabited, and promote the construction of up to 15,000 public homes on available SAREB land.

The prime minister has described the new housing law as a "great milestone" and an "achievement" for both the progressive government coalition and the people of Spain. Sánchez has emphasised that the lack of affordable housing is a real problem, especially for young people, and a constitutional right that is not accessible to many.

According to government sources, there are studies indicating that 70 percent of the inequality in a country is due to the difficulty of accessing decent housing. Spain ranks as the fourth country in the European Union in which it is necessary to make a greater financial effort to pay the rent, and the average price per square metre has increased by 45 percent from 2014 to 2021. In addition, Spain has only 3 percent of public housing compared to an average in Europe of 9 percent, and countries that reach 20 percent.

Sánchez has criticised the housing policy of the PP, which he calls a "resounding failure." He has pointed out three basic axis of the PP's policy: first, the "old mantra of neoliberalism to liberalise the land," which "stuffed the real estate bubble" and led to speculation and corruption; second, tax breaks that "only benefited developers," and third, the "privatisation of public housing vulture funds."

In summary, the Spanish government is taking steps to address the lack of affordable housing, which is a real problem for many Spaniards, especially young people. The plan of measures to be approved next week will make thousands of homes available for rent and promote the construction of public housing on available land. The government is committed to raising the percentage of public housing to 20 percent to better control the evolution of prices and guarantee greater accessibility to housing for young people.

Following the announcement, Ione Belarra, the Minister of Social Rights and the 2030 Agenda, emphasised the importance of making all SAREB homes available to the public rental housing stock. Belarra believes that this move is essential for giving young people in Spain a chance to enter the property market. According to her, it should be an obvious step to take.

Sources

https://spanishnewstoday.com/spanish-government-commits-to-providing-50000-more-affordable-homes_2098160-a.html
https://www.elimparcial.es/noticia/252983/nacional/el-ultimo-eslogan-de-sanchez:-50.000-viviendas-de-la-sareb-a-precios-asequibles.html