Catalonia's government and Comuns pact new housing law as Junts and PP challenge earlier measure

The Government of Catalonia and the Comuns have reached an agreement on a new housing law that aims to boost the supply of protected housing by converting offices, hotels, and parking lots into homes and limiting new residential buildings to primary residence use. The proposal, announced by Territory Minister Sílvia Paneque and Comuns leader Jéssica Albiach, is expected to be registered in the Catalan Parliament on Monday and fast-tracked for approval this year. Source: La Vanguardia; El Mundo

The new proposal

The law includes measures to create between 15,000 and 20,000 protected housing units over four years. It allows increasing building height by up to 20% for protected housing, even above existing limits, and subdividing buildings where currently not permitted. New homes must be at least 50 square meters and comply with habitability standards. Source: El Mundo

Additionally, a separate provision in the same legal package mandates that all new housing built from licenses requested after the law's entry into force must be used as permanent primary residences, effectively banning short-term or tourist rentals. This measure applies to both free-market and protected housing in areas declared as tense housing markets, covering 271 municipalities where 90% of the population lives. The restriction is temporary, lasting up to four years with possible extension. Source: La Vanguardia

Challenge to earlier law

Meanwhile, Junts and the Popular Party (PP) have filed a request for a legal opinion from the Consell de Garanties Estatutàries (CGE) regarding a previous law that sought to restrict speculative housing purchases. The CGE's non-binding opinion will delay the law's approval until at least October. Junts and PP argue the law violates property rights, freedom of enterprise, and legal certainty. Junts also claims it infringes local autonomy, while the PP contends the change cannot be made via regional legislation. Source: La Vanguardia