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Spain’s new public housing company Casa 47 has opened its first affordable rental homes, giving people on lower and middle incomes the chance to apply for long-term housing at rents designed to remain within their means.

 

The first offering includes 638 homes across five autonomous communities, with the largest concentration in the Valencian Community. More homes are expected to be added in the coming months, with the government planning to expand the scheme considerably.

 

For expats living in Spain, there’s an important point to note. You don’t have to be Spanish to apply. At least one member of the household must have Spanish nationality or legal residency in Spain, meaning foreign nationals who are legally resident in the country can apply if they also meet the other eligibility conditions.

 

Casa 47 is intended to provide stable, affordable rental housing, with the government aiming to ensure that tenants don't spend more than 30% of their income on rent. Initial contracts will run for 14 years and can subsequently be extended, potentially allowing tenants to remain in the property for many years as long as they continue to meet the requirements.

 

At the moment, there are seven open application programmes covering properties in the Valencian Community, Catalonia, Galicia, Asturias and Navarra.

 

The Valencian Community has the biggest selection, with 415 homes available across the three provinces. Castellón accounts for 157 properties, including homes in Benicarló, Burriana and Peñíscola, while Alicante has 153 spread across municipalities including Dénia, Elche and Orihuela. Another 88 are located in the province of Valencia, including homes in Manises, Carlet, Benaguasil and Turís.

 

Prices vary depending on the property and location. Some of the cheapest homes are available for €350 a month, including one-bedroom properties in Castellón de la Plana, Cedeira, Gijón and El Vendrell. At the other end of the scale, a four-bedroom property in San Antonio de Benagéber is listed at €1,066 a month.

 

Catalonia currently has 93 homes available, while Galicia has 96. Asturias has 17 properties, all in Gijón, and Navarra has 34 homes in Lekunberri.

 

There are several conditions attached to the scheme. Applicants must be adults or emancipated minors and generally cannot already own a home, although there are exceptions in certain circumstances, such as an existing property being uninhabitable or having accessibility problems.

 

Households must also have a net annual income between 2 and 7.5 times the IPREM and must be up to date with their Social Security and Tax Agency obligations. Individual housing programmes can have additional requirements, so applicants need to check the specific conditions before applying.

 

Applications can now be made through the Casa 47 portal. Applying early doesn't give anyone an advantage, as homes won't be allocated according to the order applications are received. Once each application period closes, eligible applicants will enter a notary-supervised lottery to determine who gets the available homes.

 

 

Image: Casa 47