The Spanish government says it’s launching a new consumer portal to help people find affordable rental housing—but whether it lives up to expectations is another matter.
According to Spanish press reports—though curiously absent from the Housing Ministry’s own website—the Ministry of Housing (MIVAU) has approved a plan to develop a digital platform where users can browse state-supported affordable rentals, check eligibility, and submit applications. The platform will also allow tenants to manage contracts and report issues once they’ve moved in.
This portal will form part of a €2.2 million contract awarded by Sepes—the state-owned land management agency recently repurposed as a public housing company—to develop an integrated housing management system, including a CRM to improve communication with applicants and tenants.
The government claims the project will increase transparency, boost efficiency, and improve citizen engagement. But given the Ministry’s spotty track record—and the command-and-control mentality typical of centralised initiatives—there are good reasons to be sceptical.
In recent years, the Spanish government has repeatedly announced ambitious plans to grow the country’s affordable housing stock from around 3% to 20%, often referencing 50,000 Sareb-owned homes as part of the solution. Yet little visible progress has been made, and questions remain over how many of these homes are actually habitable or well located.
Now, Sepes is being positioned as the main player in managing and expanding public housing, including through the gradual transfer of Sareb assets. The new portal is intended to be a cornerstone of this effort—described in some media reports as a kind of “Idealista for affordable rentals”.
That’s quite a claim. Spain’s major property portals have spent years fine-tuning their user experience and data integration. Expecting a ministry-led platform to match that level of service is, to put it mildly, optimistic. And with no public-facing demo or timeline, it’s hard to judge how close this project is to becoming reality.
The portal forms part of broader plans tied to the upcoming State Housing Plan 2026–2030, which will devote 40% of its €7 billion budget to growing the affordable housing supply. A key element is supporting social and limited-profit housing providers, who will be eligible for direct subsidies to buy or build affordable homes.
In theory, the model mirrors more successful systems seen in northern Europe. In practice, success will depend on execution—and the Housing Ministry’s record doesn’t inspire total confidence. If the new portal does appear, and manages to be even remotely useful, it will mark a rare and welcome win.
