The Government has set housing as a central policy of the legislature. The objective of Minister Isabel Rodríguez (Ciudad Real, 1981) is to implement different mechanisms to solve what for many families and young people is “a drama,” she admits. This week her department published the state rental price reference system, which will only be applied in Catalonia, for now.
Why do you trust that the market will cool down with the index?
It is one more instrument of a policy aimed at responding to major dramas and, in the long term, changing the housing market. I think this index will be useful in stressed areas because it involves price control. That is, we are going to stop the increase in prices and, therefore, we are going to enable families to save between 1,500 and 800 euros per month. We are also going to empower consumers, who will not have to be guided by a market indicator, such as platforms, to know the price they have to pay.
And the autonomous communities that do not want to apply it?
I ask you to heed the demand of citizens, to realize that it is your responsibility to attend to the right of access to housing, and, above all, that you cannot avoid or avoid social dramas that involve allocating more than 40% of your salary to the rental income, if not 80 or 100%. One cannot inhibit oneself from the anguish and hopelessness of thousands of people in one's territory. I ask communities to listen to mayors who want to respond to their neighbors and also control rental prices. What cannot be is that by kicking the Government they delve into the great social wound.
Madrid says clearly that it will not apply the Housing law.
I think Ayuso will not be able to withstand the pressure of a society that knows that if she acted she would be paying 1,000, 800 or 500 euros less in rent; and that she does not do it because she only seeks to harm the Government of Spain.
The sector claims that the index will cause less supply. Are you afraid of that side effect?
The index is part of a complete package. We are aware that we must increase the offer in the rental market at affordable prices. To achieve this, the autonomous communities and the sector are receiving an injection of resources like never before, with more than 9.5 billion. We are working to prevent speculation and abuse.
Will the small owner hurt from the index?
In this area there have been many mantras that generate feelings of insecurity among owners. I, as minister, am going to work to give them peace of mind and security. Small landlords will not be harmed by the rental rate.
The Territori councilor, Ester Capella, said that prices will not drop. What does she answer?
I especially want to value the decision of the Generalitat to apply the Housing Law, to not be inhibited, to assume its responsibility and to address the housing problem to provide an immediate response to this situation. Also recognize the effort and work of the Generalitat technicians. I can understand the discrepancy, but there are issues that go beyond political agreements. The indicator is a scientific method. What we have done is improve the previous index that the Generalitat had, which was declared unconstitutional.
They have just approved ICO guarantees to purchase homes. Why will it be a useful measure?
There is a serious social gap that especially affects young people who survived the real estate boom crisis and who find themselves cornered in an impossible rental market. There are those who want to buy a home. Sometimes it is much more burdensome to pay rent than a mortgage payment. With this decision there will be families who will be able to leave the rental market. There is another very important consequence for rural areas, where the most common way to have the possibility of accessing a home is through applying for a mortgage.
His Sumar partners do not share it.
When one governs this country one must do so through the prism of the country as a whole. Unfortunately, housing today is a problem for the social majority. Mobilizing 2,500 million in guarantees is a very important amount that will allow us to reach at least 50,000 homes
What is your relationship with funds like Blackstone or KKR?
I haven't had a chance to meet them in person yet. My demand is to formalize a great country alliance. That these entities collaborate with the Government by expanding the supply of rental homes. Now, I will always demand that it be at an affordable price.
What will be the main points of the future Land Law?
It is a very transversal demand. Building a new housing stock also involves important urban planning procedures. The sector needs legal security. We are going to prevent urban planning from being paralyzed due to errors that are not substantive but can be corrected. We are going to speed up urban planning.
When will seasonal rentals be regulated?
We have a working group in place. We are awaiting the first conclusions. We are working on a reform of the Horizontal Property law to introduce regulation.
And tourist rentals?
Definitely. There is data that indicates that tourist accommodation has increased the price of residential rentals. We are evaluating the modification of the Horizontal Property law to consider them a business and, therefore, an economic activity with answers also from a tax point of view. The city model we want is not a theme park, it is not a continuous purring of suitcases. We want liveable cities.
What do you think of Ábalos' decision to keep the seat?
I want to highlight how my party and the Government face these types of issues, with absolute rejection. Zero tolerance. I believe that this noble task requires honesty, and implies that all of us who dedicate ourselves to it leave a very important part of our lives, which cannot be tainted by wrongdoing or by events such as those we have known.
The former minister affirms that he is innocent.
No charges or accusations were brought against him in the first investigations. But it is not just about assuming criminal responsibilities, but sometimes it is necessary to assume political responsibilities.
