In a continuing effort to address the need for affordable housing, Barcelona City Council has renewed its agreement with SAREB for the transfer of housing for social rental.
This new agreement, which replaces the one signed in 2015, incorporates 23 new homes to the 143 already assigned, with the possibility of expanding this number to 200 in total.
The agreement, signed by SAREB’s Director of Social and Affordable Housing and Institutional Relations, Pau Pérez de Acha, and Laia Bonet, First Deputy Mayor of Barcelona City Council, reinforces the commitment of both entities to social housing.
Conditions of assignment of the social lease and preferential right to purchase
The new agreement maintains the terms agreed in 2015, with a maximum duration of eight years. During this period, the Barcelona City Council retains the preferential right to purchase the assigned housing units.
In consideration for the usufruct, the City Council will pay a fee of 125 euros per month for each vacant dwelling at the time of assignment and 75 euros per month for those occupied.
The 23 new homes have been evaluated by the technical and social services of the Municipal Institute of Housing and Rehabilitation (IMHAB) to ensure that they meet the appropriate conditions of habitability.
In the event that any investment is required for its development, both entities will share the costs.
Social commitment and annual renewal
The agreement establishes that in those cases in which the dwellings house families in a situation of vulnerability, the City Council will study the regularization of the situation by means of rental contracts.
With an initial term of four years, the agreement may be renewed annually for up to four additional years. At the end of this period, the homes will revert to SAREB, which will subrogate the existing leases.
Territorial distribution of dwellings
The 166 homes transferred by SAREB and the 23 additional homes under the new agreement are distributed territorially as follows:
- Ciutat Vella: 2 houses
- Sants-Montjuïc: 20 homes
- Gracia: 4 dwellings
- Horta-Guinardó: 23 homes
- Nou Barris: 77 homes
- Sant Andreu: 26 homes
- Sant Martí: 14 homes
This joint commitment reflects the importance that both entities place on addressing the affordable housing issue in Barcelona, working together to provide tangible solutions to the most vulnerable communities.
The City Council, by guaranteeing the preferential right to purchase, shows its intention to keep these homes in the social rental inventory even after the end of the agreement, thus ensuring a lasting impact on the city.
The Company was founded in 2012 and by 2022 had integrated the principle of sustainability and social utility into its initial work objectives. In doing so, they have been able to promote affordable and social housing initiatives so that through assets it is possible to positively impact the environment of the most vulnerable.
