The Ministry of Housing does not want the autonomous communities to exclude the Government from the new housing that it expects to build with the State Housing Plan 2026-2030.
The new plan, approved last Tuesday in the Council of Ministers, contemplates 7 billion euros of investment, fundamentally aimed at expanding the supply of protected housing at affordable prices.
Of these, 60% would be borne by the General Administration of the State, conditioned on the autonomous communities taking charge of 40%. A similar formula to the one used in public transport discounts due to the energy crisis. I'll put up the money if you put up your part, with yours being smaller.
That said, the Government does not want all this investment effort – the funds are tripled in this plan compared to the last one approved, which already implied record investments – to be capitalized exclusively by the regional administrations.
Thus, communities run the risk of having funds partially or totally blocked if they fail to disclose that the homes offered are part of the state plan's financing, including the institutional image of the Government and the Ministry of Housing.
Furthermore, the regional administrations shall involve the Government in any inauguration, public presentation, or laying of the first stone for housing financed under the plan.
These acts must have the authorization of the Executive or at least contemplate its presence, with the obligation to communicate the event at least thirty days in advance of its celebration.
The guarantees expose the Ministry of Housing's fear that the regional administrations will overlook the Government's role in expanding housing supply to citizens, one of the greatest concerns of Spanish society.
In fact, in recent weeks several governments have announced reforms to streamline or accelerate the construction of housing, as is the case of the Community of Madrid, or have advanced plans with a target for the construction of new homes, as in Andalusia.
In case of actions financed by aid programs of the plan, their origin must be specified. Also the resolutions for granting aid.
Observation of the Council of State
This postulate has been questioned by the Consejo de Estado, an advisory body that analyzed the plan and issued its opinion weeks before it was approved in the Council of Ministers.
This body called for a rethinking of the penalty foreseen – total or partial withdrawal of funds –, considering that it was a measure foreseen for other non-compliance of greater gravity, not comparable to that of ignoring the role of the central Government in the execution of aid.
The observation, unlike others transferred by the Council of State, was not taken into account.
Housing appeals for "institutional respect"
For their part, sources from the Ministry of Housing defend in statements to Demócrata that the measure seeks to “maintain respect, collaboration, and institutional loyalty”. “If there is institutional respect, there is no reason for” the suspension of funds.
“It is unacceptable that by contributing 60% of the funding, the State's presence is ignored. Or is it acceptable that, being the largest contributors, an attempt is made to hide it?”, these sources ask.