Finding stable housing in l'Empordà has become a marathon even for those with permanent jobs. Aicha Tarik Gascón, 20 years old, and her partner, 27, have been looking for an apartment in the region for over a year without success, despite having indefinite contracts and stable income.
The main contradiction in their case lies in the conditions they do meet and the reason they remain out of the market. They can afford up to 800 euros per month, an amount that is close to half of their combined income, but owning two dogs has closed doors for them one after another in municipalities such as Figueres, Roses, L'Escala, Ventalló, Vilabertran, and Vilafant.
The search extended to six municipalities and commutes of up to 50 minutes
The couple works in Castelló d'Empúries and Empuriabrava, so they have expanded their search radius to avoid giving up on permanent housing. This decision forces them to accept commutes of forty or fifty minutes if they eventually find a home outside their immediate surroundings.
Aicha Tarik Gascón, a healthcare worker, summarizes the situation as follows.
"We are not looking for luxury. We just want a place to live" - Aicha Tarik Gascón, healthcare worker
Competition for available apartments adds another barrier. Many properties are rented out before interested parties can even view them, which has led them to request days off work without the certainty of even getting to see the property.
In Empuriabrava, where a significant portion of the residential stock is owned by second-home owners or is used for temporary stays, the supply for residents looking for a permanent home has fallen sharply. This limitation further reduces options near their workplaces.
Landlords demand high incomes and reject the couple because of their two dogs
The access conditions are repeated in a large part of the contacts they have made. They are asked for payslips from the last six months, an indefinite contract, income equivalent to triple the rent, and the payment of several deposits along with agency commissions.
The couple claims that when they refuse to pay fees they consider illegal, the response is usually the same. Shortly after, they are informed that the apartment has already been rented.
The veto for pets has been constant even when they have offered insurance to cover possible damages. Aicha Tarik Gascón lives with two dogs, a mix of border collie and mastiff, and refuses to give them up to access a home.
"You can't abandon your dog because you can't find an apartment. You have the responsibility of a being, you can't leave it at the slightest complication" - Aicha Tarik Gascón, healthcare worker
Her partner, a service sector worker, has also voiced the weariness of that search. "It's a shame to have to fight so hard for something as basic as a roof over your head," he says.
A 650 euro ad turned out to be an attic where they couldn't stand up
Not all problems appear upon signing. On one of the visits, they went to an apartment advertised for 650 euros a month, with two bedrooms and 60 square meters, and found a very small space, with narrow stairs, a low ceiling, and attics where they could not stand upright.
They have also detected fraudulent ads with attractive photographs and affordable prices that end up demanding prior payments through vacation rental platforms. That filter forces them to be suspicious even of offers that fit their budget.
After more than a year of searching, the couple is already considering an option that was not part of their plans. They are considering buying an old house, taking out a mortgage, and renovating it, although both are under 30 years old and have few savings, after having set their rental limit at 800 euros per month.