The Sevilla village where the housing crisis doesn’t exist and rent costs just €20

Marinaleda, a village in Sevilla province, Spain, is known for its unique housing model that allows residents to pay just €20 a month for rent. This is in stark contrast to the high housing costs found in the rest of Spain. In Marinaleda, a municipality of around 2,600 people, the local housing system is remarkably different from the private property market.

The municipality has been offering social housing at this remarkable price for decades. Up to 24 new social homes are about to be built and rented out for between €15 and €20 a month. These new homes will be built in two groups, each consisting of 10 or 14 semi-detached houses. The properties will remain under municipal control, with rent adjusted to residents' individual circumstances rather than being set by private landlords.

Pilar Prieto, a long-time resident of Marinaleda, has lived in her home since 1993 and has paid less than €20 a month for rent. She and her family helped build the property, contributing to the construction through labor. According to the municipality, public land is made available for self-builders, with materials, technical support, and construction assistance provided through agreements and public employment programs.

More than 350 homes have been built using this system. The approach is based on keeping housing outside the normal property market, with the municipality acquiring land to prevent private speculation. Mayor Sergio Gómez, who lives in a municipal home himself, describes the system as management rather than a miracle. While Marinaleda needs support from the Junta de Andalucía to continue building more affordable housing, the municipality's housing model has provided a solution to the housing crisis for its residents.