Catalonia housing: Rent control disputes and progress on 50,000 unit goal

The Catalan government is facing challenges in its efforts to regulate housing prices and expand the public housing stock. While the regional administration has approved a one-year extension for several municipalities to remain in the 'stressed residential market zone'—allowing for rent controls—some towns like Granollers, Mollet del Vallès, Parets, and Montmeló have been excluded from the list after failing to meet specific economic indicators.

In Granollers, local officials are contesting this exclusion, arguing that the economic effort required for housing is nearly at the threshold, with residents spending 28.4% of their income on housing and 29.90% when including mortgages. The city intends to request re-inclusion in the list by March.

Simultaneously, the Catalan government reported progress on its plan to provide 50,000 protected housing units by 2030. Currently, 10,000 units are completed, with an additional 28,000 in various stages of construction or processing. Housing Minister Sílvia Paneque noted that while the pace is sufficient to meet the 2030 goal, a significant gap remains, as the public housing stock must reach 15% to effectively stabilize rental prices, whereas it currently sits below 2%.