Article by REAS

Today, we’re happy to introduce the Housing Working Group within REAS (Red de Redes), a collective of over 20 individuals and 11 organizations from across Spain. Their mission is to promote the cooperative housing model in use transfer—a non-speculative, affordable alternative that prioritizes long-term housing security over profit.

They work to develop strategies and policy proposals that support and recognize this model at the national level, advocating for public policies that facilitate its growth. The core principles of this approach include cooperative ownership, indefinite tenure, zero profit motives, and a commitment to expanding access to social and affordable housing over time.

This model has already been successfully implemented in countries like Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and Uruguay, where strong public policies have helped make it a key solution for securing dignified and affordable housing. In some cases, it is also known as cohousing, especially in projects that emphasize community living, shared spaces, and collective services.

By working together, we aim to strengthen and expand this model in Spain, making housing more accessible, fair, and sustainable for all.
As the Working group mentions it could be defined it as “self-managed collaborative communities that live together in an environment that its members have promoted and designed, made up of private housing units and common spaces to share: activities, services and care.”

The main values of the cooperative housing model in transfer of use are:
• Affordable and non-profit housing
• Commitment to sustainability
• Collaborative housing
• Social and Solidarity Economy

Public Policies and Milestones
May 2022: Proposal for a Resolution for the recognition and promotion of cooperative housing in transfer of use. This is the first time that Parliament has debated housing on a transfer of use basis, a model of access to housing that is making its way into Catalonia as a cooperative alternative to renting and buying. For more info, click here.

November 2022: Within the framework of the Forum on Cooperative Housing in transfer of use Barcelona City Council and the Generalitat de Catalunya, together with other institutions, sign a manifesto in support of public-cooperative collaboration. Click here to read it.

February 2025: The Spanish Congress has approved a proposal to support cooperative housing in use transfer, marking the first time such a measure has been endorsed. The proposal, supported by all groups except for the abstentions of PP and Junts and the opposition of VOX, encourages the government to promote these projects through regulatory improvements, financing, and public land allocation. This model is seen as a non-speculative, affordable housing alternative that aligns with social and solidarity economy principles.

The Non-Law Proposal (PNL) has been presented by the Socialist Group at the initiative of the Housing Working Group of REAS which in October presented its proposal to the parliamentary groups. The text has been debated and approved in the Housing and Urban Agenda Commission of the Congress of Deputies, where it has received 18 votes in favour from the PSOE, Sumar, ERC, Bildu, PNV and Mixto groups, the abstention of 15 deputies from the PP and Junts and the only votes against from the deputies of VOX.

Key measures include recognizing the cooperative model as a non-speculative housing option, creating public policies to support it, allocating public land, improving the regulatory framework, and enhancing financing and tax measures in the State Housing Plan 2026-2030. The proposal aims to address the housing crisis by providing stable, cost-based housing outside the speculative market.

The cooperative housing model is growing in Spain, with significant projects in regions like Catalonia, Madrid, and the Basque Country. Notable projects include La Borda, La Balma, and Cirerers in Barcelona, and Entrepatios in Madrid. There are also senior-specific projects focusing on mutual support and care. The institutional recognition is seen as a crucial step to expand and consolidate this housing model across Spain.

The Congress proposes the following measures for cooperative housing in use transfer:
1. Recognition of the cooperative model in use transfer as a non-speculative way to access housing, contributing to the expansion of social and affordable housing.
2. Creation of a specific public policy to promote and support cooperative housing in use transfer, coordinated across various ministries.
3. Allocation of public land as a key tool for the development of these projects.
4. Improvement of the regulatory framework to facilitate the implementation and operation of this model.
5. Promotion of financing and fiscal measures in the new State Housing Plan 2026-2030, aiming to consolidate this model as a real alternative for accessing housing.

Full Access to the Proposal here

Relative Article from XES Network here