Keys Handed Over to First Young Tenants
On Thursday 22nd October 2026, the Barcelona City Council handed over keys to 11 newly renovated affordable rental homes at Carrer de la Diputació, 354, in the Dreta de l’Eixample district. The handover marks the first phase of a rehabilitation project led by the Municipal Institute of Housing of Barcelona (IMHAB), which is converting a former block of tourist apartments into 22 subsidised homes for residents under 35. The building, acquired in 2024 through the city’s right of first refusal and setting aside (tanteig i retracte), previously housed 21 units used for short-term rentals. Under the city’s strategy to increase public housing and reduce tourist accommodation, the 23-flat building is now being transformed into long-term, affordable rental units.
22 Homes Allocated by Lottery
Of the 23 flats, one remains occupied by a tenant under an old rental contract. The remaining 22 have been allocated by lottery to applicants under 35 years of age registered in the Official Protection Housing Applicant Registry (RSHPO). Six of the flats are reserved for local residents of the Eixample district. Rents range from €350.39 to €459 per month depending on usable area, with community fees and property tax (IBI) charged separately. The homes vary in layout: 12 are loft-style single-space units, nine have one bedroom, and one has two bedrooms. Seventeen of the flats have already been renovated, with work ongoing in the remaining five. Full completion, including rehabilitation of common areas, rear façade, and balconies, is scheduled for the end of 2026.
Building Specifications and Investment
The six-storey building has a total constructed area of 1,487 square metres, of which 1,291 square metres are designated for housing and common spaces, and 196 square metres for two commercial units. The city’s total investment, including acquisition and renovation, is €8.7 million. Electrical systems have been modernised throughout, and gas supply has been disconnected as part of energy efficiency upgrades.
This delivery enables the recovery of protected housing in a dense district like Eixample, where available land for new developments is scarce.
The acquisition was authorised under Barcelona’s updated pre-emption ordinance, which prioritises buildings with more than 10 flats for public purchase to expand the social housing stock.
How to Apply for Remaining Flats
Further allocations will be made as renovations complete. Eligible applicants must be under 35 and registered in the Official Protection Housing Applicant Registry. The lottery draw for the first 11 homes was published in the official results document.
Sources: Ajuntament de Barcelona.
