El Gobierno lanza ‘El portal de Casa 47’, su buscador de vivienda pública

The new Casa 47 portal, launched by the government on Monday, currently offers just 800 rental properties, none located in Madrid or Barcelona, two of Spain's most competitive markets. Initially, the portal will list 800 rental units, with an additional 1,500 to follow, bringing the total to 2,300. This number is far below the demand created by the scarcity of rental housing, according to Moncloa sources, though they promise to add more listings each quarter.

Contracts signed under the initiative will initially last 14 years, with the possibility of extension up to 75. Renters will be required to pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent, which will vary depending on the specific property and local economic conditions. Prospective renters must provide income documentation, such as tax returns, to demonstrate their financial situation.

Upon approval, the allocation of properties will be decided by lottery, conducted by a notary, among those who applied for each distribution.

To qualify for a Casa 47 property, applicants must be Spanish citizens or legal residents, over the age of 18, not own property (with some exceptions), and have a net annual family income of between two and 7.5 times the IPREM - roughly €1,200 to €4,500 per month. All family members must also be up to date with tax and Social Security payments, and members of Casa 47's staff are excluded from the beneficiary list.

Despite being among the markets with the highest rental prices, Casa 47 does not currently offer any rental properties in Madrid or Barcelona's municipal schemes. The government has opened seven calls for applications, with the final deadline for submissions set for September 21st. These calls include 18 units in Asturias, 93 in Catalonia, 157 in Castilla and León, 91 in Valencia, 153 in Alicante, 34 in Navarre, and 99 in Galicia.