Cuba implements private leasing for stores and strict real estate rules

Cuba is implementing shifts in property and commercial management. In the Siboney residential area of Havana, formerly known as Biltmore, high-end mansions are being listed for sale at prices ranging from 35,000 USD to 700,000 USD. Since 2021, the Siboney-Atabey zone has been designated as an area of interest for security and internal order, meaning any property transfers, construction, or business openings require prior authorization from the Ministry of the Interior.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Internal Commerce has begun leasing state-owned warehouses and stores to private actors, including MSMEs, cooperatives, and self-employed workers, under Resolution 16/2026. This transition is already visible in Songo La Maya and Villa Clara. While the management of these 'Neighborhood Markets' is being privatized to revitalize food and hygiene supply, the buildings remain state property. However, challenges persist regarding supply chains, as some regions still lack the wholesale markets necessary to provide these new managers with essential goods like rice, oil, and protein.