The Government has launched a new aid package to try to mobilize empty homes towards the affordable rental market. The program, included in the new State Housing Plan 2026-2030, contemplates incentives of up to 600 euros per month for owners who transfer their properties to public social or affordable rental programs.
The Executive's objective is to increase the supply of housing available through agreements with individuals who have empty apartments and agree to temporarily incorporate them into systems managed by public administrations or collaborating entities.
The aid is not aimed at any conventional private rental. To access them, homes must be integrated into public assignment programs intended for affordable rental, with price limits and specific duration conditions.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, the plan seeks to facilitate the exit to the market of currently unoccupied properties and expand the affordable housing stock without the need to build new buildings in the short term.
Up to 600 euros per month per dwelling
The program provides aid of up to 600 euros per month for each housing unit ceded. The specific amount will depend on various factors, including the autonomous community, the characteristics of the property, and the rental program in which it is integrated.
The assignment must be maintained for a minimum general period of seven years. During that time, the owner will retain ownership of the property, although the rental management may be left to public bodies or authorized entities.
The dwellings must be intended for affordable or social rent, with prices limited with respect to the free market. Tenants will be selected according to the criteria set by each regional or local administration.
The Government maintains that this model aims to offer more security to owners, guarantee stable rents, and increase the available supply for people with difficulties accessing housing.
Aid for renovating empty homes
In addition to the monthly incentive, the plan incorporates complementary grants for the rehabilitation and adaptation of properties that have been vacant for some time.
Among the planned measures are aid of up to 12,000 euros for necessary prior renovations before putting the property up for rent. The objective is to facilitate owners with deteriorated properties to condition them to later incorporate them into the affordable market.
The program also includes higher aid in some specific cases. The BOE includes subsidies of up to 30,000 or 35,000 euros for rehabilitation actions linked to vacant homes closed for long periods of time.
To this are added compensations of up to 18,000 euros intended to cover possible damages or restitution actions when the property's assignment ends.
The Ministry of Housing has defended that these measures seek to reduce one of the main obstacles pointed out by many owners: the economic cost associated with rehabilitating old homes or assuming possible damages after several years of renting.
Empty homes and stressed areas
The new state plan also includes specific programs for hotspots or areas with strong pressure on the rental market.
In some of these programs, public aid may reach 17,000 or even 25,000 euros depending on the action taken and the specific transfer conditions.
The Executive considers that part of the vacant housing existing in Spain could be incorporated into the market if the owners have greater economic and legal guarantees. According to the latest official data from the INE, Spain has millions of unoccupied homes, although not all are suitable for permanent rental.
The effective implementation of these aids will now depend on the agreements signed by the autonomous communities and the specific calls approved by each territory. The autonomies will be responsible for managing a large part of the programs, processing applications, and setting additional requirements.
The Government foresees that the State Housing Plan 2026-2030 will serve as one of the main public tools to expand the affordable rental stock in the coming years and reduce the existing tension in many Spanish cities.