‘Rehabita’ programme for the rehabilitation of rental housing

By project Social Green

Published on 04 July 2022

Spain

Extremadura

About this good practice

REHABITA consists of the transfer of ownership of a dwelling to the Junta de Extremadura for a period in exchange for the Autonomous Administration to renovate it and rent it.
The objectives of this pilot, with an initial budget of 635,851€ to renovate houses in the municipalities of Olivenza, Madroñera, Garrovillas, Alconchel, Casar de Cáceres, and Guareña, are to increase the supply of affordable rental with the recovery of empty houses, improve urban environments, and carry out energy efficient rehabilitation.
At the same time, it seeks to generate employment, contribute to COVID economic recovery, and combat energy poverty, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions. This will also enable the occupation of rural areas now that teleworking makes possible the decongestion of cities.
Through the assignment of the usufruct of the house to URVIPEXSA, the public company will undertake the necessary renovation works, with criteria of EE and accessibility, and will prepare the administrative procedures to make them available to the public on a rental basis at affordable prices.
In exchange for these interventions in this empty residential park, URVIPEXSA will exploit the houses during the agreed time of transfer of usufruct (between 5-15 years) as well as pay the corresponding taxes, process the subsidies for rehabilitation, and assume the insurance, conservation, and maintenance.
If it this pilot is successful, it will be transferred to the entire region.

Resources needed

635,851 euros

Evidence of success

This programme was launched in last August in 9 municipalities. After the conclusion of the call, 29 proposals were received but 20 have been rejected, so the available credit will not be exhausted. Hence, another call will be made in municipalities with similar characteristics as they have expressed their interest to access the pilot programme.

Potential for learning or transfer

REHABITA is a good example of how to face the COVID-19 crisis in several ways:
1. Fixing the population in the territory ("re-inhabit"). Increasing the offer of affordable rental houses in small municipalities, enabling the decongestion of the main cities, and occupying rural areas which is possible due to teleworking opportunities.
2. Renovating the empty residential park, reducing CO2 emissions, and fighting energy poverty with affordable rental prices.
3. Contributing to the economic recovery and generating employment.