One month after the entry into force of rent control, the Generalitat announced yesterday that it will double the number of municipalities in which it is applied. The Department of Territory has begun the procedures to add 131 towns to the list of stressed areas, which will leave the total at 271 localities, where more than seven million people live, 90% of the Catalan population.
The Generalitat will now apply the measure in all municipalities with more than 2,000 inhabitants that meet the requirements established by the State Law for the right to housing. That is, residents dedicate more than 30% of their income to paying the rent or mortgage, including basic expenses and supplies, or the rental or purchase price in the locality has experienced an increase in the last five years. accumulated of at least three points above the CPI.
Municipalities such as Bagà, Bellver de Cerdanya, Cadaqués, Sant Antoni de Calonge, Castell-Platja d'Aro, Móra d'Ebre, Roses, Viladecavalls or Vielha have been added to the new list. Many of the towns that will be incorporated are tourist areas. In the initial list, the regulations mainly affected the towns with the most inhabitants of the autonomous community.
In all these areas, the same measures that have been in force in the last month will be applied. That is, the rent of the new contracts may not exceed the price of the last contract in force in the last five years, once the annual update clause of that contract has been applied. In the case of large holders (owners of five or more properties located in stressed areas), the rent may not be higher than the reference index.
Territori justified the review of the criteria for applying the measure due to the general increase in the cost of housing in recent years in Catalonia, almost always well above household income, and the upward trend in rental prices, despite the recent application of rent containment.
The processing will follow the same procedure as the first declaration: a twenty-day public information period is opened so that administrations, entities and individuals can present allegations. Once finalized, all questions will be analyzed and answered and the final resolution will be notified to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda so that the public can come into force.
