This is one of the country’s great challenges.. We must build social housing at low rent, it is a social necessity: currently we only have 1%. Builders say they don’t recoup the investment and mayors say they can’t pay more. Today, the workers’ commissions have proposed creating a public investment fund.
In Spain, housing is not made for social rental. And public administrations recognize us why. Their prices are not attractive for construction companies. “The current price is exceeded compared to the current market price,” said Ames Blas García Piñeiro, mayor of Ames (La Coruña).
In the small town of Ames, in La Coruña, they are going to give away land for private apartments. Actions which show that in our country there is little commitment to social security. Only 1.5% of the real estate stock is intended for social rentalwhile, ironically, according to experts, social rental is only the solution to the housing problem.
José María Raya, professor at UPF Tecnocampus, explained to laSexta that what must be kept in mind to overcome the housing crisis in Spain is the construction of housing: “For now, the priority must be rental housing. Let the State stock up, build muscle, stock up. “This housing remains in the hands of the State and the State is reallocating it.”
A fundamental social benefit for Spain because we are at the bottom of the OECD. In The Netherlandssocial rent exceeds a third of its real estate portfolio. In the UK, 16%. And our French neighbors devote 14% of their property to social rental.
This is why the workers’ commissions are proposing a public-private investment fund that supports this type of housing. “The fund should be under public management and control. Rent prices would decrease by 30%.” It takes political determination, resources and time,” said Unai Sordo, secretary general of CCOO.
This is precisely what construction companies are lacking. This was indicated by Óscar Rey of Promociones Julio Rey, who said that the “administrative agility” is key. “They are the big land holders”. Because they are sincere: if they do not speed up the procedures and do not quickly obtain liquidity from the State, their only source of financing can only come from private investment funds.
