Those convicted of squatting-related offences, including breaking and entering or trespassing, will be barred from accessing social housing in the Community of Madrid for five years following their conviction. The measure was announced by the regional government of Isabel Díaz Ayuso during a press conference organised by Nueva Economía Forum.
Applicants for subsidised housing in the region must have been registered residents of Madrid for at least ten years. Access will now be explicitly restricted for those convicted of squatting-related crimes, who will be excluded from social housing for five years after their conviction. President Díaz Ayuso stressed that the government “will continue to strengthen the fight against squatting, even within the limits of its powers.”
Under a new Public Housing Regulation, set to be approved in July, anyone convicted of trespassing or squatting will be barred from accessing subsidised housing.
For the first time, the regulation will also require applicants to prove they have been registered residents of the Community of Madrid for a minimum of ten years in order to qualify for protected housing. This measure aims to prioritise those with a stable connection to the region and “ensure that public resources are allocated to those who contribute continuously to its development,” according to the regional government.
The Madrid Region’s affordable rental housing plan currently includes 14,000 flats at various stages of development. Of these, 5,175 have already been delivered, 3,200 are due for completion in the coming months, and 3,400 from the "youth solution plan" are currently out to tender.
