Politics

Empty apartments, leaks, and conflicts: the challenge of managing public housing

The president of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, has promised to build 50,000 public housing units in Catalonia by 2030. Behind the large figures, however, some questions arise. One of them is whether the administration has the capacity to manage all of this public housing stock. Over the last four months, ARA has visited around forty developments run by the Barcelona Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation (IMHAB), totaling more than 2,800 apartments. This sample highlights some of the problems with this public housing offering: empty apartments and parking; headaches with building construction and maintenance; and difficulties managing the common day-to-day conflicts faced by residents.

The president of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, has promised to build 50,000 public housing units in Catalonia by 2030. Behind the large figures, however, some questions arise. One of them is whether the administration has the capacity to manage all of this public housing stock.

Over the last four months, ARA has visited around forty developments run by the Barcelona Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation (IMHAB), totaling more than 2,800 apartments. This sample highlights some of the problems with this public housing offering: empty apartments and parking; headaches with building construction and maintenance; and difficulties managing the common day-to-day conflicts faced by residents..