The Spanish region of Extremadura wants to update its housing stock and add new affordable rental options. With this in mind, the region has set up the Rehabita programme, which consists of transferring home ownership to the public company Urvipexsa in exchange for renovating it free of charge and renting it out. The income generated from the rent should cover the renovation costs insofar as possible.
Once the investment has been recouped, the rehabilitated property is returned to the owner. The aim is to recover part of the empty properties in Extremadura's towns by promoting renovation considering energy-efficiency criteria.
The rehabilitated properties will be rented out, guaranteeing the promotion of social cohesion. The specific objectives of this measure include recovering empty homes, promoting energy efficiency, stabilising the population, regenerating urban centres and guaranteeing access to housing.
The first four renovations – owned by the Hospital and Santa Casa de Misericordia de Olivenza – have already begun in Olivenza and will be operated by Urvipexsa for 15 years.
The project consists of completely renovating these four homes with partial roof replacement, installing aerothermal energy and improving energy efficiency, thus reducing non-renewable energy use by more than 60%.