Casa 47, Spain’s new public housing initiative aimed at affordable rentals.
Credit : www.mivau.gob.es
Finding a flat to rent in Spain has become a headache for thousands of people. In many cities, prices have climbed far beyond what average salaries can comfortably cover, while the number of available homes keeps shrinking. For many would-be tenants, the problem isn’t choosing between properties – it’s finding anything at all.
Against that backdrop, the government has launched a new affordable rental housing initiative, offering something that has started to sound almost unrealistic in today’s market: rents well below the going rate.
Under the name Casa 47, the plan aims to make housing accessible again for ordinary households, with public rental homes designed to stay in public ownership permanently.
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What Casa 47 is trying to change
Casa 47 is a newly created public housing company set up to deliver quality rental homes at controlled prices. The idea is not to compete with the private market, but to offer an alternative for people who are being priced out of it.
As a first step, the programme has launched two pilot calls covering a total of 171 homes. These are spread across Vigo, several Valencian towns affected by the DANA, and Mieres, in Asturias.
The government sees this as a testing phase. If the model works, the plan is to roll out new housing offers on a regular three-month cycle, all managed through a single national portal. That means even those who don’t succeed in the first round should have more chances later on.
How much are these affordable rents?
The figures are what have drawn most of the attention. According to the Ministry of Housing, the rents under the Casa 47 scheme are set well below typical market prices in each area.
In Valencia, the monthly rent comes in at €485.42.
In Vigo, it is higher, at €662.84.
In Mieres (Asturias), rents are much lower, averaging €412.89 per month.
While not every flat costs €400, the Asturias properties show that renting at around that level is still possible under public housing schemes. Prices are adjusted to local conditions, rather than being driven by demand.
The ministry says the programme is designed to respect Article 47 of the Spanish Constitution, which states that citizens have the right to decent and adequate housing – a principle that has often felt out of reach in recent years.
Who can apply for Casa 47 housing
Applications must be made through the Casa 47 portal, which forms part of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda’s electronic platform. The scheme is open to individuals and households, including people living alone, as long as the property will be used as a main residence.
There are, however, several conditions that applicants must meet.
To begin with, no one in the household can already own a property. Applicants must also be up to date with their tax and Social Security obligations.
Income limits apply as well. In most locations, household income must fall between two and 7.5 times the IPREM. With the IPREM set at €600 per month, this translates to an annual income of between €16,800 and €63,000.
In Mieres, the thresholds are lower, reflecting local income levels. There, eligible households must earn between €16,800 and €37,800 per year, or between two and 4.5 times the IPREM.
How the homes are allocated
Unlike many housing schemes, Casa 47 does not use a points-based system. Instead, homes are allocated through a lottery among all applicants who meet the requirements.
The draw determines the order in which successful applicants can choose from the available properties. The aim, according to the ministry, is to keep the process simple and transparent, without complicated scoring systems that often frustrate applicants.
For this first pilot phase, the deadline to submit applications is 20 February 2026. Housing officials recommend checking the Casa 47 portal regularly, as future calls will be published there along with full details of each development.
A small step in a much bigger housing problem
There is no illusion that Casa 47 will solve Spain’s housing crisis overnight. With rents still rising across much of the country, 171 homes barely scratch the surface.
Still, for those who meet the criteria, the scheme offers something rare in today’s market: a realistic chance at an affordable, stable rental. More broadly, it signals a shift in direction, with housing treated as a long-term public responsibility, not just a private investment.
For now, renting a flat for around €400 a month remains out of reach for many. But with Casa 47, it is no longer just a theory – it is a possibility, even if only for a limited number of people, and a sign of where housing policy may be heading next.
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