The housing crisis in Spain
The housing crisis in the Spanish state is a reality and Catalonia is no exception. In recent months, since the new government was formed, the recently incorporated Ministry of Housing, led by Isabel Rodríguez, has begun to speed up the procedures for the new law, in a direction, but one that has not been liked in Catalonia.
In an interview with Rodríguez, she has defended that the rental index “will be useful in tense areas because it prevents price control”, and has highlighted that it improves the previous indicator of the Generalitat, which was declared unconstitutional. Rodríguez has also recognized Catalonia’s decision to “not inhibit itself and assume its responsibility”, and has highlighted the effort and work of the Government’s technicians.
“I can understand the discrepancy, but there are issues that go beyond political agreements. The indicator is a scientific method,” he said. According to her, the small owner will not be harmed by this index, and the Madrid president “will not stand the pressure” and will have to apply it.
The responsibility of the state
“We will stop the increase in prices and, therefore, we will enable families to save between 1,500 and 800 euros per month,” stated the Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda. She herself has asked the communities that do not apply it to “heed the demands of citizens, that they realize that their responsibility is to attend to the right of access to housing, and above all that they cannot avoid social dramas that involve allocating more of 40% of salary to rent, not 80% or 100%”.
According to Rodríguez, “what cannot be done is that in order to give the government a kick, they delve into the great social wound.”
Ayuso’s position
Although Catalonia has had some problems with the application of the law and continues to fight to use its index, there is one person who has still positioned itself more against it. In the specific case of the Madrid president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, she herself has already assured that it is not a coherent index and that she does not want to apply it.
In response to these statements, Minister Rodríguez confirms that Ayuso will not be able to withstand the pressure from society “which knows that if she acted she would be paying 1,000, 800 or 500 euros less in rent.” “And that she does not do it because she only seeks to harm the government of Spain,” she added.
Tourist accommodation
Regarding tourist rentals, the Minister of Housing has also pointed out that there is data that indicates that tourist accommodation has increased the price of residential rentals. The Spanish government considers the modification of the Horizontal Property Law to consider them a business and, therefore, an economic activity with answers also from a tax point of view.
“The city model we are flying is not a theme park, it is not a continuous snoring of suitcases. We want habitable cities,” he highlighted.