The Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition has announced the opening of a call for aid endowed with 5 million euros to promote the rehabilitation of empty homes in 590 rural municipalities of Catalonia. The program, integrated into Plan 5.000, seeks to mobilize the stock of unoccupied homes and make them available to families residing in rural areas.
Open call to individuals, cooperatives and administrations
The call, which is part of the Government's strategy to combat depopulation and difficulties in accessing housing in rural areas, will allow individuals, non-profit cooperatives, local administrations, and public entities to apply for aid. Sílvia Paneque, councillor of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, presented the details of the plan in Planoles, in the Ripollès region.
"Catalonia is very diverse and in rural environments, more than large housing developments, what is needed is to mobilize empty and to be rehabilitated homes, such as farmhouses or flats in old towns or urban centers" - Sílvia Paneque, Minister of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition
Three aid programs with different recipients
The fund contemplates three differentiated lines of action. The first program is aimed at owners who renovate empty homes to be used as habitual residence or for relatives up to the second degree. In this case, the aid covers between 10% and 40% of the investment, with a cap per dwelling of between 10,000 and 20,000 euros and a maximum of three dwellings per applicant. The condition is to maintain residential use for at least ten years.
The second program is aimed at cooperative or private housing intended for affordable rent. The rehabilitated homes must be incorporated into rental pools for a minimum period of ten years. The aid covers between 50% and 80% of the investment, with a cap of between 25,000 and 40,000 euros per dwelling and up to six subsidized dwellings per applicant. Non-profit housing cooperatives can also access it.
The third program is reserved for local administrations or public entities that rehabilitate empty homes or properties ceded for a minimum period of fifty years. In this case, the properties must be qualified as permanent public housing. The aid ranges between 50% and 80% of the investment, with a cap of between 40,000 and 70,000 euros per dwelling and a maximum of ten dwellings per applicant.
Priority for municipalities at risk of depopulation
The program strengthens its impact in territories with a greater risk of depopulation or with more structural difficulties to mobilize housing. In these municipalities, both the percentage of subsidy and the maximum limits per dwelling will be higher compared to the rest.
The eligible actions include habitability improvements, structural reforms, accessibility, energy efficiency, and functionality. Also considered are the associated technical costs such as projects, construction management, or energy certificates.
Upcoming phases and citizen participation
The Government plans to issue new calls for aid in the next three years until reaching 20 million euros. In addition, Minister Paneque announced that on March 16, the prior consultation process will open for the drafting of the Pla d"Habitatge de les Àrees Rurals (PHAR), which will define the strategy for expanding the affordable housing stock for the next twenty years.
"It is open to all citizens, entities, companies and administrations that wish to make contributions (...) for the definition of the diagnosis and the proposals of the Plan, which will be approved this year" - Sílvia Paneque, Minister for Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition