Fuensanta Alcalá, who previously held housing-discipline responsibilities at Barcelona City Council, is set to become director general of the Generalitat's new Directorate General for Housing Discipline. The Catalan government is scheduled formally to approve the body on 28 July.

For tenants and landlords, the immediate consequence is a new Generalitat unit intended to oversee compliance with housing regulations and apply the sanctions regime for breaches. The information available does not specify new fine amounts, a public complaints channel or a date on which the directorate will begin handling cases.

“She is highly specialised in disciplinary matters and in applying the sanctions regime. She has a long career at Barcelona City Council and we considered her very suitable. The choice was therefore easy.”Sílvia Paneque, Generalitat minister for Territory and government spokesperson, as reported on 14 July

Directorate forms part of agreement with Comuns

According to reporting published on 14 July, the new directorate is part of an agreement between the government led by Salvador Illa and the Comuns parliamentary group. Sílvia Paneque said the Consell Executiu, the Generalitat's executive council, would formally approve its creation on 28 July.

David Cid, the Comuns spokesperson in the Parliament of Catalonia, welcomed Alcalá's selection, describing her as a technical specialist whose career has been connected to public housing policy.

Housing measures cited alongside the new enforcement body

The report places the directorate alongside measures the Generalitat has been developing with the Comuns, including limits on seasonal rentals, a sanctions framework for owners who fail to comply with housing legislation, and a planned ban on speculative home purchases in Catalonia.

  • 28 July: the Consell Executiu is expected to approve the Directorate General for Housing Discipline.
  • Leadership: Fuensanta Alcalá is expected to head the new body.
  • Purpose stated: monitoring compliance with housing rules and applying the relevant sanctions regime.

Residents, tenants and property owners will need to await the Consell Executiu's 28 July decision for details of the directorate's remit and any procedures for reporting or enforcing alleged breaches.

Reported by Source Text Link, Bernat Coll, Gisela Boada, larazon.es, cronicaglobal.elespanol.com, europapress.es, valenciaextra.com, escolasert.com, Mayte Piulachs, Mark Stücklin, Bernat Coll, Àngels Piñol, Diari Catalunya.