Barcelona City Council has agreed to buy a 14-flat building on Carrer de la Diputació, 161, in the Eixample district, for €6.1 million. Thirteen of the flats are currently empty and will be allocated to individuals registered with the Official Protected Housing Applicants Register in Barcelona.
The total cost includes €4.6 million for the acquisition of the property and an additional €1.5 million for its renovation. Jordi Valls, Fourth Deputy Mayor for Housing and Eixample Councillor, announced the purchase at a Municipal Council Plenary meeting on Friday.
Boosting Social Housing in Barcelona
Valls stated that the right of first refusal and retraction, known as "tanteo y retracto", is a strategic policy for Barcelona City Council to increase affordable housing. This is particularly important in areas like Eixample, Gràcia, and Ciutat Vella, where housing availability is limited. He also noted that this policy helps to curb gentrification by protecting properties from speculative processes.
The announcement came during a debate on a Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC) proposal. The proposal called for the transfer of state funds to municipalities for property acquisitions using the "tanteo y retracto" mechanism. The Plenary agreed, at the PSC's initiative, to urge the Catalan government to work with the Spanish government to establish these state funds. The funds would be used to buy properties to expand Catalonia's public housing stock, with transfers directed to municipalities prioritising such acquisitions.
Council to Seek State Funds
Barcelona City Council also agreed to use these funds to boost the purchase of entire residential buildings and to explore linking with social housing providers where appropriate. The decision was made with the Mayor's casting vote, following a tie between councillors who voted in favour (PSC and Republican Left of Catalonia, ERC) and those against (Barcelona en Comú, People's Party, Vox), with Junts per Catalunya abstaining.
Valls emphasised the need for more resources at Catalan, state, and European levels to support these housing initiatives. The council's move aims to address the pressing need for affordable housing and protect residents from market speculation.
