The new regulation on protected housing in Catalonia introduces a mandatory extension that directly affects owners and families in municipalities like Barcelona, where it is estimated that around 40,000 homes will be subject to this measure in the coming years. The Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya already offers a public calculator that allows users to check the maximum sale and rental prices for these properties based on the year of qualification and the applicable module.
Sales Price Cap and Extension of Protection
The Ministry of Housing has recalled that the disqualification of protected housing is the responsibility of the autonomous communities, which establish the corresponding procedure. In this context, Catalan regulations have gone almost unnoticed by many owners, according to real estate expert Sergio Gutiérrez.
"Be aware that they have just limited the selling price of housing" - Sergio Gutiérrez, real estate expert
Gutiérrez emphasizes that the new regulation represents one of the greatest limitations on private property we have ever seen. The forced extension means that the condition of protected housing extends beyond the period stipulated in contracts, preventing many homes from becoming free market as initially agreed.
Direct Impact on Families and the Real Estate Market
The immediate effect of the regulation is the impossibility of declassifying housing for longer periods, which forces sale prices to be kept within legal limits. Sergio Gutiérrez explains that families who expected to sell as free housing will see it continue to be protected and will have to adjust to official prices
"What kind of legal helplessness is this?" - Sergio Gutiérrez, real estate expert
The expert points out that the measure particularly affects those who were counting on their homes being liberalized after the protection period. Now, the forced extension prevents these properties from being sold at market price, which generates uncertainty and concern among those affected
Public Consultation and Regional Procedure
The Housing Agency of Catalonia keeps the digital tool active so that any citizen can consult the maximum sale or rental price of their protected housing. The procedure for disqualification remains a regional competence and, according to the new regulations, the requirements are tightened and the protection periods are extended.
In Barcelona and other Catalan cities, the application of this regulation will have a relevant impact on the real estate market and on the planning of families residing in subsidized housing.