75% of the Spanish population considers that the tax burden should be increased on those who own two or more homes, according to a survey on housing conducted from a sample of 2,200 people and commissioned by the European parliamentary group The Left to the Ateneo del Dato.
Within this group, 29.7% believe that people with at least two properties should pay more taxes on them; 24.6% set that threshold from three homes; 8.1% from four; 8.3% for those who have between 5 and 10 properties, and 4.4% maintain that the tax surcharge should apply from 10 homes.
Conversely, 20.7% of those surveyed defend that owners of multiple homes should not have to pay more taxes for that reason under any circumstances.
The survey, promoted by Sumar MEP Estrella Galán, also reveals that six out of ten (59.6%) Spaniards believe that no one should own more than three homes. 10.4% consider that the maximum admissible would be a single home, 32% set the limit at two, and 16.7% set it at three properties.
Likewise, 71.6% of participants indicate that the concentration of housing in few hands greatly or quite a bit influences the reduction of housing supply intended for habitual rental. This percentage rises to 74.8% when it comes to the purchase of properties for investment purposes.
In line with this perception, seven out of ten (72.1%) respondents maintain that the acquisition of housing for investment purposes by companies and/or individuals should be restricted. 48.8% are in favor of imposing limits on both companies and individuals; 15.8% only on companies and 7.5% only on individuals.
Along the same lines, 75% of the sample considers that real estate agencies and portals are contributing to the increase in housing prices, with 33% believing they do so "a lot" and 42% estimating they influence this increase "quite a bit".
Majority in favor of capping rent in their environment
Almost seven out of ten (68.4%) respondents are in favor of setting limits on rental prices in their area. This stance is shared by more than half of those who vote for the Popular Party (55.5%) and by 53.2% of Vox voters.
Support for the regulation of rental prices in the immediate environment rises to 76.6% among people currently renting.
Broad consensus to increase public investment in housing
According to the study, 82.9% of citizens support increasing investment in housing to reach 1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Within this group, 48% declare themselves very much in agreement and almost 35% quite in agreement.
The report underlines that this objective would imply multiplying the current investment effort by ten, in order to promote the construction of affordable public rental housing and the rehabilitation of empty properties.