Barcelona’s Housing Co-op Offers Blueprint for Affordable Living

Community-Led Project Provides Security Amidst Rising Costs

A Barcelona housing co-operative is gaining international attention for its innovative approach to affordability, offering residents a stable and community-focused alternative to soaring rental prices. The project demonstrates how collective action can address housing shortages and foster a sense of belonging.

La Borda: A Resident-Driven Solution

In 2012, housing activists, social workers, and architects in Barcelona identified a vacant public space and envisioned a solution to the city’s growing housing crisis. They formed a co-operative, securing a 75-year lease on the land from the municipal government. Together, they managed the funding, design, and construction of La Borda, a development completed in 2018.

La Borda comprises 28 apartments with monthly rents ranging from €350 to €650. Residents also contribute a €18,500 membership fee, granting them a share in the development. The €3 million construction cost was financed primarily through loans from a co-operative bank and resident contributions.

“I would say this thing is like living the dream … housing is so hard, but here I have a peace of mind in my life, I have security.”

—Adrià Garcia Mateu, Resident

The Importance of Community

Built with Spanish timber and concrete, La Borda features apartments arranged around a central courtyard. Shared spaces include laundry facilities, a communal kitchen and living room, a co-working area, and a garage with shared tools. The project’s success is rooted in the strong sense of community, a deeply ingrained aspect of Catalan culture.

Mateu emphasizes the importance of neighbors, stating they are “like a family, because they’ve been living there together for generations.” He believes the sense of community is a key benefit of the project, alongside affordable housing in a neighborhood resisting gentrification.

According to a recent report by the European Commission, over 82 million people in the EU are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, highlighting the urgent need for innovative housing solutions. (European Commission Report 2024)

Lessons for Ireland and Beyond

The La Borda project was presented at the International Social Housing Festival in Dublin, where it resonated with housing experts grappling with similar challenges. Eduard Cabré, a Spanish public housing consultant, noted the parallels between Barcelona’s and Ireland’s housing crises.

Cabré explained that Spain’s social housing stock is limited, comprising only about 2% of the total housing market. The private rental sector is under immense pressure, as access to homeownership has become increasingly restricted since the global financial crisis. Average rents in Barcelona now stand at €1,193 per month, while the median net income is €1,603.

Spain’s new housing law, enacted in 2023, caps rent increases at 2.2% and limits evictions, stabilizing prices and providing renters with greater security. However, a loophole allowing seasonal rentals (1-11 months) is impacting the availability of long-term rentals, prompting efforts to regulate this sector.

Innovative Approaches to Housing

Barcelona is employing two key strategies to address housing shortages: leasing municipal land for non-profit housing, like La Borda, and acquiring privately owned buildings for public housing. The state has priority in purchasing buildings with six or more units, having already acquired over 1,600 units in the past decade.

Vienna and Brussels: Further Models

Cities like Vienna demonstrate the power of long-term commitment to social housing, with almost half of tenants living in state-owned or co-operative housing. Brussels is exploring the conversion of vacant office buildings into affordable housing, addressing both housing shortages and the shift towards remote work.

Mara Verlic, a policy advisor with the Austrian Chamber of Labour, highlights Vienna’s historical commitment to “object-based subsidies” – state-built housing – and the high quality standards maintained in these properties.

These examples demonstrate that tackling the housing crisis requires a multifaceted approach, prioritizing community-led initiatives, sustainable building practices, and long-term investment in affordable housing options.