Fines Issued to US Investment Fund

The opposition-led initiative at Igualada town hall has started issuing fines to major property owners who keep flats empty, with the first penalty notification sent to a US-based vulture fund holding eight flats in the city.

Under the municipal register of vacant housing, which came into force earlier this year, owners of four or more unoccupied flats that have stood empty for at least two years face a 50% surcharge on their IBI property tax. The measure aims to push investors to rent out or sell unused homes amid a local housing shortage.

236 Vacant Flats Identified

To date, 236 vacant flats owned by investment funds and large landlords have been identified through the register. Each will undergo technical inspections to verify they have not been occupied in the past two years, as required under the Barcelona Provincial Council’s guidelines on vacant properties.

Jordi Cuadras, head of the opposition group Igualada Som-hi (PSC) and mayoral candidate, said: “We want empty flats to stop being a problem and become part of the solution.” He stressed that families, young people, and older residents struggle to find housing while investor-owned units remain unused, distorting the market and degrading buildings.

“It cannot be that so many people face housing difficulties while investment funds leave homes empty,” said Cuadras.

The surcharge will be applied only if the property remains unoccupied. Once rented, the additional tax is lifted.

Incentives for Renting and Renovation

The campaign includes incentives to encourage landlords to bring properties back into use. These include a €20,000 subsidy per flat for renovations, IBI reductions for flats listed on the municipal rental exchange, and further IBI discounts for installing solar panels.

Cuadras highlighted that his party, from opposition, also secured the development of affordable rental housing on Carrer de Sant Carles, operational for the past 18 months. “If I become mayor, housing will be my top priority,” he said, calling for change after 16 years of governance by Junts.

Primary sources: diba.cat. Reported by esparreguera.cat, InfoAnoia.cat.