The Catalan government has purchased 14 homes within a single residential block in Palau-solità i Plegamans. This move protects current tenants from displacement and secures these properties for the public affordable rental market. It also ensures that the 14 families currently living in the building can remain in their homes with controlled, accessible rent.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Institut Català del Sòl (INCASÒL), the Generalitat de Catalunya’s public land and housing agency, managed the acquisition. Through this purchase, INCASÒL now owns 47% of the 30-unit building. This significant stake solidifies the government’s role in the local housing market.
A Strategic Move to Bolster Public Housing
This operation forms part of a much larger initiative, announced by the Catalan government last November, to expand its public housing portfolio. The government previously revealed a landmark agreement to purchase 1,064 homes from InmoCaixa, CaixaBank’s real estate arm.
CatNoticias reported that subsequent acquisitions have further expanded this initial agreement. Beyond the original purchase, the Generalitat has acquired another 203 properties in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Barcelona. Adding the 14 homes in Palau-solità i Plegamans brings the total number of properties purchased from the banking entity to 1,267, marking a substantial effort to reclaim housing for public use.
Details of the Palau-solità i Plegamans Acquisition
The building in Palau-solità i Plegamans, a municipality in the Vallès Occidental county north of Barcelona, was constructed in 2006. It features three floors with apartments averaging approximately 70 square metres in size.
Valued at €1.28 million, the deal includes 14 residential units, 14 associated parking spaces, and 14 storage rooms. This comprehensive purchase ensures that residing families will not lose access to essential amenities, instead benefiting from the stability of a public landlord committed to affordability.
Addressing Catalonia’s Housing Squeeze
The government’s direct acquisition strategy responds to growing housing pressure across Catalonia. By purchasing entire blocks of homes, the Generalitat prevents sales to investment funds, which often lead to significant rent increases and the displacement of long-term residents. This proactive approach aims to stabilise communities and combat market speculation.
This policy complements other legislative efforts to control the housing market. For instance, Barcelona’s controversial law, mandating that 30% of new developments be allocated to affordable housing, was recently upheld by the Supreme Court. However, it continues to face political opposition, including a legal challenge from the Catalan People’s Party.
As rental prices climb in cities across the region-even in places like Lleida, where average rent recently surpassed €600 for the first time-the need for intervention has become increasingly urgent. Therefore, direct purchases like this one in Palau-solità i Plegamans are a key tool in the government’s arsenal. These complement aid programmes, such as the €400 rental support offered to seniors in Barcelona.
