Seven out of every ten Spaniards are in favor of freezing rents for two years

MadridHousing has become the major topic of public debate over the last two weeks. While Ceuta and the migration crisis marked the three summer months, the situation in the autonomous city has now taken a back seat to talk about the housing emergency. An issue that has even led the Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, to call for elections to demand more support for the progressive majority. In this context, the Center for Sociological Studies, the government body led by José Félix Tezanos, has published a monothematic survey on housing conducted in June, which reinforces the Spanish government's position on this matter.

According to the barometer, up to 76.3% of Spaniards are in favor of State intervention "in the market as much as necessary to guarantee everyone's access to housing," and only 18.8% prefer that housing be governed by the law of supply and demand. From this point on, the measures that the barometer assures have the most consensus are some of those proposed by the Ministry of Housing.

According to the data, 70.5% of Spaniards are in favor of freezing rental prices for two years, and 75.7% are in favor of limiting tourist apartments. At the same time, there is a broad majority in favor of reducing taxes on the purchase of a first home –up to 95.4% are in favor–, and 72% advocate for increasing taxation on large property holders –those who own more than 10 homes–. At the same time, support for everything related to expropriations decreases: 54.3% are against expropriating empty homes, but 49.9% would support expropriating land to build public housing (43.6% are against it).

In parallel, there is also broad support among respondents for "giving more guarantees" to landlords in the face of possible non-payments by tenants (85.7% are in favor), bringing developable land to market (84.3%), and recovering public housing sold to companies (83.2%). At the same time, 76.3% have a favorable position on creating a public housing company.

For the Spanish government, the result of the barometer, carried out prior to the approval of the housing decree-laws that were rejected in the Congress of Deputies, is an endorsement of its policies. The two regulations have now been recovered by the Council of Ministers and will be validated by the Permanent Deputation, taking advantage of the fact that in this mini-Parliament formed during the electoral period, there are not exactly the same majorities that emerged from the elections: the left can avoid the veto of the PP, Junts, and Vox.

Sources from the Ministry of Housing state that the survey reflects "majority support for the housing policy" of the Spanish government, which they say "focuses on expanding public housing and combating speculation." The ministry also highlights that there is a high percentage in favor of recentralization in this matter: they point out that 45% of respondents believe the State should have more powers and that only 36% know that the autonomous communities have authority in this area. A key issue for the PSOE, as they consider that the measures taken by the Spanish government do not reach the public because the PP-led autonomous regions do not implement the measures. A clear example is the declaration of a stressed market zone, to control rental prices, which is applied in Catalonia, for example, but not in the Community of Madrid, presided over by Isabel Díaz Ayuso.

Inability to access housing

To the question of how they prefer to live, whether renting or owning, 93.5% of Spaniards respond that they would like to be homeowners. However, 80.6% admit that they do not have the prospect of buying in the next two years. Regarding inheritances, only 31.8% compared to 67.1% believe they will inherit a home.

Why don't Spaniards buy if they want to be homeowners? The answer is clear: because they do not have enough purchasing power. 63.3% say they do not meet the requirements to receive a mortgage; 71.1% respond that they do not have enough income for the installments, and up to 80.4% state that they do not have the money for the down payment on the apartment.