Overview

• The Barcelona City Council, in partnership with Fundación Hábitat 3, has purchased Casa Orsola for €9.2 million to expand the city’s affordable housing stock.
• The building will now be managed under social criteria, with 26 apartments and 4 commercial spaces included in the affordable housing program.
• Former owner Albert Ollé criticized the deal, claiming public funds will subsidize rents for tenants who are not vulnerable while many residents still lack access to affordable housing.
• Ollé also condemned the municipal housing policies of the past eight years, arguing that regulatory burdens and the 30% VPO mandate have stifled new construction and reduced rental availability.
• He urged Mayor Jaume Collboni to prioritize incentivizing private property development and protecting property rights to address Barcelona’s housing crisis.