Spain’s new state-backed property portal has sparked criticism after it emerged there are no homes available in Andalucia.

Casa47 is the government’s new public housing agency designed to improve access to affordable long-term rentals.

But despite Andalucia containing some of the country’s most severely strained housing markets – including Malaga and the Costa del Sol – the entire region has been left out of the initial offering.

None of the approximately 800 homes currently advertised is located in Malaga province, or anywhere else in Andalucia.

Instead, the properties are spread across Alicante, Asturias, Barcelona, Castellon, A Coruña, Girona, Lleida, Lugo, Navarra, Tarragona and Valencia.

Advertised rents range from around €400 to more than €1,000 per month.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said another 1,500 homes are expected to be added in the short term, although their locations have yet to be announced.

Rocio Diaz, the Junta de Andalucia’s housing minister, demanded that Madrid specify when Casa47 would arrive in Andalucia, how many homes would be provided and in which municipalities.

‘Andalucians have the same rights as the rest of Spaniards,’ she said.

Diaz argued that while new websites and initiatives were welcome, they should not be confused with actually increasing the housing supply.

‘Announcements and internet portals are fine, but families need available homes,’ she said, insisting that the fundamental problem remained the lack of housing.

What is Casa47?

Casa47 is the new name and expanded incarnation of former state land agency Sepes.

Its housing portfolio is being assembled from properties belonging to government departments including the ministries of Finance, Defence and Interior, as well as homes originating from Sareb, the asset-management company created following Spain’s financial crisis.

The idea is effectively to create a state-owned alternative to commercial property portals, through which qualifying households can apply for publicly backed affordable rentals.

The website has a public section explaining available properties and application procedures.

Tenants who have already been allocated a property will also have access to a private area where they can view information about their home and contract, submit documentation, report problems and communicate directly with Casa47.

Who can apply?

The homes are not available to everyone.

Applicants’ households cannot own another home and their combined income must generally fall between two and 7.5 times the IPREM, Spain’s public income benchmark used to determine eligibility for various benefits and assistance programmes.

Monthly rents will be calculated according to limits established by the relevant autonomous region and cannot exceed 30% of the municipality’s average income.

One of the most striking aspects of the scheme is the potential length of the tenancies, as rental contracts can ultimately last for up to 75 years.

The initial rental period will be 14 years, followed by automatic seven-year extensions provided most of the eligibility conditions continue to be met.

What about Malaga?

Although there are currently no Casa47 properties available in Malaga, the government has a major project planned for the city.

More than 1,300 protected rental homes are planned on the Buenavista site, where development works were put out to tender in June.

The urbanisation contract has an estimated pre-tax value of €27.9million, or around €33.6million including IVA, with construction works expected to take 24 months.

Casa47 says it has already unlocked major urban development projects in cities including Sevilla, Ibiza and Valencia and that progress will soon be made in Malaga and Madrid.

It has not specified which Malaga development it is referring to, although the Buenavista project is considered a likely candidate.

Previous government projections have suggested Casa47 properties in Malaga could eventually be offered for less than €700 per month.

But for people struggling to find an affordable home in the province today, there is currently nothing to apply for through the new portal.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.