The PSC, the Catalan Socialists’ Party, has welcomed the Generalitat’s proposed removal of Lleida from the Zona de Mercat Residencial Tens, Catalonia’s designated high-pressure housing market area. If the exclusion is approved, landlords putting flats on the rental market in Lleida would no longer be subject to the rent-price cap linked to that designation.

For tenants in Lleida, the proposal could mean the loss of a specific rent-containment mechanism. ERC, Esquerra Republicana, said the procedure remains under way and that the exclusion is not yet effective.

“Leaving the high-pressure housing zone is good news, even if ERC does not like it,” the PSC de Lleida said.

Mayor cites new housing construction

Mayor Fèlix Larrosa described the proposed change as “very good news”, while saying that work on housing policy would continue. He said 1,125 homes are currently under construction in Lleida.

  • 121 affordable rental homes have already been completed in the Mangraners neighbourhood.
  • The Paeria, Lleida City Council, says it will continue to promote housing for older people and young people.
  • The council’s plans also include the Centre Històric and Mariola neighbourhoods.

Larrosa said the city should remain alert, but argued that prices should not be feared to rise if the market is supplied with the homes people need. According to the reports cited, rents rose slightly over the past year despite the cap.

ERC disputes celebrating the proposed change

ERC’s group at the Paeria said losing tenant-protection tools was not a reason for celebration. It also questioned Larrosa’s claim to credit for a result calculated using 2023 data.

The Generalitat’s high-pressure designation had applied in Lleida because of insufficient housing affordability and availability. The same proposal would remove Cervera and Guissona from the designation, while Agramunt and Torrefarrera would be added.

The Generalitat has published the updated proposal on its official announcement page.

Primary sources: govern.cat, MINISTERIO DE VIVIENDA Y AGENDA URBANA, mivau.gob.es. Reported by Source Text Link, Maricel Benabarre, Eric Mendo, Tatiana Fernández, Genís Casanovas Esteve, segre.com, paeria.cat, El Periódico, Marc Guasch Ferreiro, UA1 Lleida 104.5 FM.