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The Spanish government approved a new State Housing Plan this Tuesday April 21, setting out how up to €7 billion will be spent on housing policies across the country between now and 2030.

 

The new plan represents a significant increase in funding, with a budget three times larger than the previous programme. According to the government, the aim is to improve access to housing by increasing supply, supporting renovations and helping younger people get onto the property ladder.

 

The funding will be split between the central government and the autonomous communities, with Madrid covering 60% and regional governments contributing the remaining 40%. Once approved, each region will manage its own share of the money and launch specific grant schemes.

 

 

A large portion of the funding will go towards expanding the supply of housing. Around 40% of the budget is earmarked for increasing public housing, with another 30% set aside for property renovations. The rest will be used for programmes aimed at helping young people move out of the family home.

 

The government explained that this approach is designed to tackle several issues at once, from ageing housing stock to a lack of affordable rental options in many parts of Spain.

 

 

A key part of the plan focuses on improving existing properties, particularly by making them more energy efficient.

 

Homeowners will be able to access grants of up to €20,500 depending on the type of work carried out, the size of the property and the level of energy savings achieved. Additional support will also be available, including up to €8,000 for structural improvements and up to €13,000 for accessibility upgrades.

 

For buildings with special status, such as listed properties or those located in historic centres, total support could rise to as much as €30,000.

 

 

The plan also looks to increase the number of homes available to rent by targeting vacant properties.

Owners of empty homes could receive up to €35,000 to renovate their property, provided it is then rented out at an affordable price for at least five years. Another option allows owners to hand over management of the property for seven years, with the government covering up to €12,000 for improvements and a further €18,000 to return the property in good condition at the end of the agreement.

 

Alongside this, there will be support for new public housing developments. Grants of up to €85,000 will be available for building permanent subsidised housing in smaller towns, along with incentives for developers who commit to affordable rental projects.

 

 

Younger people are another key focus of the plan, particularly those struggling to afford housing.

Under the new measures, people aged up to 35 will be able to apply for grants of up to €15,000 to buy or build their first home in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents. The government hopes this will also help boost populations in rural areas.

 

Support for renters will also increase, with the rental voucher rising to €300 per month for up to four years. In addition, a new scheme will offer up to €28,800 to help people access subsidised rental housing with the option to buy later on.

 

 

The plan will also include new rules aimed at improving transparency in how subsidised housing is allocated.

 

Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez said an “anti-fraud clause” will be introduced to avoid issues seen in the past, including a controversy in Alicante involving the allocation of social housing.

 

According to Ms Rodríguez, no housing development will receive public funding unless there is a clear and transparent system in place for applications and allocation. This will include public registries of applicants and allocation processes that can be independently verified, such as lotteries overseen by a notary.

 

The government explained that these measures are intended to ensure fair access and restore confidence in the system, particularly in areas where concerns have previously been raised about how subsidised housing has been distributed.