About 300 people have gathered in Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona on May 15, 2021 during what has been the first mobilization of the movement for cooperative housing in right of use in Catalonia

They ask for the political, fiscal and financial involvement of public administrations to launch an alternative ownership model to buying and renting that prevents speculative use of homes 

La cooperative housing sector in right of use of the Solidarity Economy Network (XES), together with the Federation of Housing Cooperatives of Catalonia, calls on the local, national and state public administrations to take measures to make cooperative housing affordable so that it can play a key role in the social reconstruction phase of the coming months and years. The cooperative housing in right of use, according to the same XES and the Federation, "it has all the potential to become a real affordable and stable housing option for the country's popular classes". For this reason, they consider that it is necessary to strengthen collaboration with the public sector with specific financial aid and facilities to access financing, among other measures. That's why it's been months they started a campaign which intends that the cooperative housing in right of use is an instrument to generate affordable housing in the long term and avoid speculation. 

Within the framework of the campaign, called "We make cooperative housing affordable", have held a protest rally on May 15 at noon in Pl. Sant Jaume (Barcelona). In addition to the reading of a manifesto, representatives of the Tenants' Union and the Social Economy of Catalonia participated. The concentration receives special interest given that it is the first unitary mobilization called by the movement for cooperative housing in the right of use in Catalonia. The date chosen, 15M, is not a coincidence either. The emerging sector of housing cooperatives in right of use is also born, in part, from the 15M movement. According to the convening entities, they want to be present on the street "ten years after the movement that was a shock for the search for systemic alternatives to the social and housing crisis". 

This movement currently collects approx more than a thousand people from different groups in the country. Of these, the majority are looking for a heritage in which to develop their project. In 2019, there were 70 cooperative homes in right of use in Catalonia already in the coexistence phase, spread over 6 buildings. The number will increase considerably in the coming years, as there are currently more than 400 homes from 21 projects being developed on lots or buildings (public and private). Which shows that interest is high and rising.

Measures for affordability

The measures of the campaign of the XES and the Federation of Housing Cooperatives of Catalonia are aimed at state, national or local administrations. For this reason during the months that the campaign has lasted they have held meetings with different political forces in the Parliament that emerged from the elections in February and with the directions of the Ministries of Housing, Finance and Social Economy. The measures range from aid to cooperatives and members to an improvement in the taxation of cooperative housing in right of use or financing, which should go through greater public guarantees. 

Specifically, in terms of aid to cooperatives, it is proposed to set aside a minimum quota of 25% for cooperative housing in right of use of state aid intended for rent and right of use. Also the creation of a line of aid by for the capitalization of cooperatives, the acquisition of land or buildings of private ownership and free regime for their promotion or rehabilitation. With regard to the improvement of taxation, they propose applying a super-reduced VAT rate of 4% to the promotion and construction of this model of cooperative social housing, as well as bonuses on the payment of taxes in local level such as the IBI or the ICIO for cooperative housing in right of use. The improvement of financing would go through more advantageous conditions than the current ones in the lines of public financing, especially through the Catalan Institute of Finances, with the aim of making promotions more affordable. Among other things, they propose to increase the amortization period and the amount financed per home. They also ask for the involvement of public administrations in the establishment of a cooperative fund that facilitates the establishment of financial guarantees and, in addition, to create a line of guarantees also with public support for the financing of promotions.