The Council of Ministers has approved this Tuesday the appointment of Leire Iglesias as the new Secretary of State for Housing, according to sources from the Government. Iglesias, until now president of Casa 47, moves to occupy the second position of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, which is directed by Isabel Rodríguez.
Her arrival at the Secretary of State comes after the departure of David Lucas, who held the position until a few weeks ago. Iglesias was already part of Rodríguez's team and has been one of those responsible for the transformation of the former Sepes into Casa 47, the new state public housing company.
The new Secretary of State faces the position with experience both in the regional administration and in state politics and with several public housing projects underway.
From Sepes to Casa 47
One of the main tasks of Iglesias during her time at the helm of Casa 47 has been to launch the new model of public company arising from the transformation of Sepes.
Casa 47 has among its objectives to manage the complete cycle of public housing: from planning and urbanization of land to the promotion, construction, and delivery of residential properties.
During her time in the public company, Iglesias and her team have also worked on the incorporation of properties from Sareb and other ministries to expand the public stock of affordable housing, especially intended for rent.
Among the projects linked to this stage is the Campamento operation, in Madrid, where it is planned to develop a new neighborhood on the grounds of former military barracks with a large majority of public housing.
Experience in Extremadura and in Congress
Iglesias, born in the Basque Country, has developed much of her political and administrative career in Extremadura and Madrid.
Before joining the management of Sepes and subsequently Casa 47, she was Counselor of Mobility, Transport, and Housing of the Junta de Extremadura. During that time, she participated in the development of the Housing Plan 2022-2027 and in the modification of the regional regulations for the promotion and access to housing.
Among the measures promoted during her regional stage is the creation of mechanisms such as the acquisition guarantee fund, the housing guarantee mechanism and rehousing, and the tax on vacant homes linked to the fulfillment of their social function.
Iglesias also has parliamentary experience. During the X Legislature, she was a deputy and spokesperson for housing of the Socialist Group in Congress.
In that stage, she participated as a speaker in initiatives related to rehabilitation, regeneration, and urban renewal, the flexibilization and promotion of the rental market, and the protection of mortgage debtors. She also intervened in the processing of a bill on payment in kind, halting evictions, and social rental.
The challenges she will have on the table
The new Secretary of State will assume her functions at a time marked by difficulties in accessing housing and with several state programs under development.
Among them is the State Housing Plan 2026-2030, which raises the planned investment to 7 billion euros, as well as the development of the PERTE for the industrialization of housing.
The expansion of the public housing stock and the promotion of affordable housing are part of the main objectives of state policy in this area. Spain maintains, according to the data collected in the starting information, a public rental housing stock that is reduced compared to the European average: public housing intended for rental represents around 1.72% of the total.
Iglesias will also have to continue the development of Casa 47 from the Secretary of State, after having directly participated in its launch.
Maribel Ramos, new president of Casa 47
The succession of Iglesias at Casa 47 will be assumed by Maribel Ramos, until now director of the affordable housing park of the public company.
Ramos will thus take the presidency of the company responsible for developing a large part of the state strategy to increase the supply of public and affordable housing.
The change leaves Iglesias at the head of the Secretary of State and keeps in Casa 47 a person responsible who was already part of its management structure.