Barcelona reinforces its commitment to accessible housing with a new call for subsidies that increases the maximum aid per renovated apartment to 30,000 euros. This measure, promoted by the Barcelona Housing Consortium, raises the amounts by 50% compared to the previous year and allocates a total fund of 3 million euros to the improvement of the residential park and the expansion of the Borsa d’Habitatge de Lloguer.
Rehabilitate to expand the affordable rental offer
The program seeks to encourage owners to reform their properties to allocate them to rent at affordable prices or municipal social programs such as the Emergency Board or First Home, aimed at citizens in vulnerable situations. In the last call, 77 applications were processed, demonstrating the growing interest in this type of initiative.
“The goal is twofold: to improve the quality of housing and increase the affordable rental park,” said Deputy Mayor Jordi Valls, highlighting that rehabilitation also contributes to the comfort and well-being of future tenants.
What actions are eligible
The grants cover both basic works to recover legal habitability and comprehensive reforms that modernize the floors. The eligible actions include:
Update of electrical, water, or gas installations in accordance with current regulations.
Kitchen and bathroom renovations to achieve the standards of protected housing.
Improvements in accessibility, such as the elimination of architectural barriers.
Energy actions, from thermal insulation and closure renovation to acoustic improvements and solar protections.
The program allows you to apply for the grant even if the works have already begun, provided that the procedure is formalized before 30 November 2026.
More incentives for collaborating owners
In addition to the rehabilitation aid, other benefits are added for those who transfer their flats to the Rental Exchange:
Additional bonus of 2,000 euros to incorporate empty homes.
Municipal coverage against defaults, with aid of up to 6,000 euros for previous debts.
95% discount on the IBI for the duration of the contract if the house is declared of municipal interest or utility.
In addition to the financial aid, the City Council offers advice, mediation, and a guarantee of collection to offer tranquility to the owners and stability to the tenants.
A key initiative of the Living Plan
These actions are part of the Living Plan, the City Council’s strategy to expand affordable housing and ensure its maintenance in good condition. In a city as densely urbanized as Barcelona, rehabilitating the existing park is essential to move towards a more sustainable, efficient, and accessible urban model.
With the increase in aid, the City Council consolidates rehabilitation as a fundamental pillar of its housing policy, aligned with the objectives of the Neighborhood Plan and the programs co-financed with European NextGeneration funds.
