Housing

The lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, has responded at the plenary session of the Basque Parliament to EH Bildu's question on the housing access crisis. Pello Otxandiano has stressed that in the area of housing "a lot needs to be done", but that "the main thing" is to lower prices to offer "really affordable housing to middle-income workers."

With regard to addressing the housing problem, EH Bildu has described the last ten years as "lost." In response to this statement, the Housing Counsellor on Tuesday called for "everyone to take responsibility." Denis Itxaso has asked the political forces for "concrete proposals."

A few hours after EH Bildu presented the coalition's housing plan, Pello Otxandiano, spokesperson for the Basque Parliament, has attended the Boulevard de Radio Euskadi programme, where he has presented his party's housing proposals, with particular emphasis on public housing proposals. "There is a particularly important axis: the promotion of public housing on a hitherto unknown scale in this country.

The Basque Government has relaxed the minimum limit which has hitherto been set for 25 years.

For the mayor of San Sebastian, priced housing is the solution for the middle class to have access to housing in San Sebastian, because it is "above the standards for access to protected housing, but below free market prices."

In the words of Chief Denis Itxaso, fraud in the sale of VPOs is widespread and secretly claims added value from the buyer. He argues that VPOs were created to combat speculation and reports that they will oppose these practices.

This is a multi-channel strategy aimed at explaining to the public the main measures put in place by the Basque Government to deal with the residential emergency. Auver coincides with the publication of the Decree   on housing measures that will enter into force tomorrow, 12 May. 

EH Bildu has presented an "ambitious" plan to support "yes or yes" intervention in the housing market ; the "large-scale" promotion of Official Protection Housing (VPO), "multiplying the public effort by 10"; and the coalition plan to "protect the social function" of housing, in his words. 

Thus, the age range will be extended. Until now the limit was 28 years, but from now on young people between the ages of 23 and 29 will have the opportunity to apply for this help. 

Three main scenarios have been opened: the first will affect those who have applied for an extension and have already accepted it: will these extensions remain valid? The second will focus on tenants who have requested an extension but have not yet received an answer: are they protected or are they entering a legal vacuum?

The decree allowing contracts that expire this year (from 21 March to 31 December) to be extended for two years and an annual income increase of a maximum of 2%.  was in force since 20 March. 

There are already more than 40 municipalities in the CSC on the strained housing area list.

Except for last-minute surprise, Congress will repeal the Decree-Law allowing the two-year extension of rental contracts ending between 21 March 2026 and 31 December 2027. 

PSE, EH Bildu and Elkarrekin Donostia called for the transfer of two municipal plots to the Basque Government for the construction of public housing and regretted the loss of the opportunity to offer protected housing for rent.

The Basque Government will approve tomorrow, with the Decree on Urgent Measures , the "social shield" in the area of housing .  Among other things, the fee to be received by the owners will be 700 euros and higher in tense areas. 

The new decree that the Basque Government will adopt on Tuesday in the Governing Council will involve the implementation of a wide range of housing policy measures, developing the general lines announced in recent months. Among the measures, the conditions for converting premises into housing will be made more flexible, which will allow, according to the Government's estimates, about 7,500 premises to change their use inthe Basque Country.

The last Sociometer of the Basque Government shows an increase in concern for precariousness and economic problems, while the concern for crime is reduced.

Pablo Bustinduy's Ministry considers that the real estate agency has committed six very serious and serious infringements "in the exercise of market dominance" by violating the rights of consumers.

Thus, the Basque Country is the third most expensive community in Spain, with an average cost of EUR 2,631 per square metre.

The Housing and Urban Agenda Counsellor of the Basque Government has stressed on Radio Euskadi that "the City Council is rethinking some of the operations". Denis Itxaso has stressed that "deadlines must be speeded up because we are not in Donostia to wait any longer".