The Spanish Association of Public Housing and Land Managers (AVS) has called for the creation of a specific legal framework for public housing and has announced that it will present legislative proposals aimed at modifying regulations and laws. The aim is to facilitate both public housing promotion and the development of affordable housing by the private sector, for which it has requested the support of the political groups.
This was expressed by José María López Cerezo, president of AVS, during his speech before the Housing Commission of the Congress of Deputies, where he proposed structural reforms and legislative measures in this area.
López Cerezo pointed out that, while in the European Union social housing represents 9.3% of the total, in Spain it barely reaches 2.5%. He also pointed out that the main housing problems in the country are related to the high cost of buying or renting, the difficulties of access for young people and middle-income families, and the exclusion of vulnerable families, which in the most extreme cases leads to situations of homelessness.
To address these issues, the president of AVS proposed a collaboration between public and private actors through a concerted housing and land plan. This plan would require action on existing housing stock, undeveloped land and pending urban plans.
Among the reforms proposed, he highlighted the need for structural changes in land management, public housing construction, housing stock management, urban rehabilitation and regeneration, and alignment with the European strategy.
He also proposed streamlining administrative procedures, prioritizing policies that guarantee that rent does not exceed one third of family income, fully financing processes related to land, development and construction, and applying tax measures and specific aid for the purchase of housing by young people. He also stressed the importance of implementing one-stop shops for urban rehabilitation and effective tools against squatting.
European pact for affordable housing
In the European context, López Cerezo advocated the creation of a European Pact to promote affordable, social and protected housing, with sufficient economic resources, stable public aid and simplified administrative procedures. This pact should include a financial agreement between European public banks and commercial banks.
In summary, the AVS president called for more subsidized housing development, more available land, a simplification of bureaucratic processes, increased private collaboration, greater funding, tax incentives and a solid legal framework for rental housing.