The Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez, faced on Thursday her fourth Sectoral Conference with sector advisors from all the autonomous communities. The Popular Party woke up preparing for the meeting with a joint statement from all its presidents, who govern most of the autonomous map, reaffirming their refusal to declare tension zones authorized by state law. They showed “their categorical rejection of the government’s attempt to impose its ineffective and ineffective policies” and described as “blackmail” the minister’s “threat” to withdraw funds from those who did not declare tense areas.
“We are not in a forum of political and partisan confrontation, but in a forum to reach agreements,” Rodríguez said at the entrance to the meeting, where he offered “collaboration and resources” from the government. “I hope that the PP, which is a state party, will do what is expected,” he confided, while asking Feijóo’s party to comply with its electoral program and propose a pact of state. And the meeting ended with an agreement. And unanimously.
As this editorial team learned from sources very close to the meeting, the communities agreed on the conditions of the next call for the Youth Rental Bonus and the implementation of the development of the National Housing Plan. In total, the government will distribute 200 million euros which it says will benefit around 66,000 young people. Andalusia receives 34.2 million; Aragon, 7.6; Asturias, 6.6; Balearic Islands, 4.8; Canary Islands, 10.6; Cantabria, 3.8; Castile and León, 10.8; Castile-La Mancha, 8; Catalonia, 29 years old; Extremadura, 6; Galicia, 11.4; La Rioja, 3.4; Madrid, 31.8; Murcia, 8.8; Valencian Community, 22.8; Ceuta, 200,000 euros; and Melilla, 200,000 euros.
A few weeks ago, the minister indicated that the Executive “will condition the funding” that it sends to the autonomous communities for housing policies to the application of the law. “I cannot treat in the same way those who respect the law, who make efforts and respond to their fellow citizens, and those who, by attacking the government, show themselves to be rebellious,” he said in an interview with TVE. Statements which provoked the anger of several regional presidencies, such as that of Madrid, which had previously indicated that it would block any request for the declaration of tense zones.
Housing sources say state regulations allow the government to apply “extraordinary” measures in areas where rents are out of control and the stressed zone declaration is enforced, which includes distributing additional funds . So, rather than punishing those who do not comply, the ministry now conveys the idea of rewarding those who do. There is an underlying logic: do communities that do not declare areas of tension need resources to combat areas of tension?
Two questions were addressed on the agenda of the sectoral conference this Thursday. On the one hand, “the successful management of recovery funds”. On the other hand, the renewal of the youth rent check.
The government had allocated 5.420 million euros to the autonomous communities, from European recovery funds, for different programs. During this meeting, the ministry’s objective was to take stock of these elements and redistribute what had not been executed between the communities that respected the deadlines and programs. “If the execution of the funds is not carried out by some of them, the remaining funds will be used by those (administrations) which could do it more quickly,” declared the minister.
24,000 homes built in 2026
Of these 5,420 million, the majority went to housing rehabilitation plans, with 600,000 actions carried out, out of a commitment of 400,000 in favor of Europe. An additional billion was allocated to the construction of new housing. The Executive had planned 20,000 housing units and there will ultimately be 24,000, which will have to be built in June 2026. And an additional 1,000 million is being used for the rehabilitation of public buildings.
Furthermore, the government has put an additional 200 million euros on the table for the 2025 youth rent bonus, which it hopes will affect around 66,000 people. Although the minister asked communities to improve management so that “all young Spaniards can be paid on time” and that regional media “do not cause harm”, the funds will be distributed as before.
On the other hand, the ministry has started working with the housing services on the next State Plan, by 2026. The objective, according to departmental sources, is to analyze which points are working, which are receiving funding and reorganize the strategy: “Instead of working on the number of programs, we will do it on objectives that really matter and on which we can influence,” they indicate.
