'Barcelona Declaration' aims to boost affordable housing and cut evictions and gentrification

Housing rights groups from across Spain presented the so-called 'Barcelona Declaration' on Monday, proposing "structural" changes in housing policy in order to reduce the number of evictions, increase affordable housing, and prevent gentrification.  

It would involve changes to tax regulations and urban planning, as well as investment in affordable housing. 

The declaration, signed by the FAVB, Confavc and CEAV housing organizations, is the result of a summit that that took place in Barcelona in November – the third big city residents' meeting – and the signatories hope residents' associations, trade unions and other social entities will use it in order to put pressure on public administrations. 

The 'Barcelona Declaration' comes on the day it was revealed that sharing an apartment in Catalonia is 34% more expensive than in 2018, and 85% more expensive than in 2015. Renting a room costs an average of €582 per month, compared to €314 per month eight years ago, according to Fotocasa.

Proposals 

Among the proposals outlined is a request to the Spanish government to apply the housing law enacted last year, to declare so-called tense housing areas where a rent cap can be implemented. 

Catalonia's territory minister said last week that the rent cap will come into force in 140 Catalan towns and cities in February.  

The Barcelona Declaration signatories also propose that public investment in housing be raised from 0.5% of GDP to 2%, and that authorities exercise their right to buy housing for sale. An average of 3% of homes in the lowest socio-economic neighborhoods should be renovated annually, they say.

Overall, 30% of housing should be set aside for affordable rent or purchase, while the sale of public housing and land to private companies should be banned, the housing rights groups say. The target is to have ten times as much affordable housing as is the case today.  

Other proposals include eliminating tax exemptions for investment companies, as well as the so-called golden visa system, and tightening regulations on renting properties to tourists, or for temporary or commercial use. 

According to a report drawn up by the residents associations, speculation has become a "social phenomenon" causing visible evictions – about 700,000 in Spain since 2016 – and invisible evictions, affecting tenants who cannot cope with price hikes when their contract ends. 

"We've seen in Barcelona how [evictions] are affecting social cohesion in neighborhoods," said housing rights activist Jaume Artigues, adding, "It affects it in all ways, even economically." 

The housing groups have already asked for a meeting with Spain's Minister for Housing, Isabel Rodríguez, and are demanding reform of the Spanish Constitution to recognize housing as a fundamental right.