Izquierda Unida (IU) of Santander is set to demand a review of municipal housing policies during the October Plenary session. The party aims to assess the Municipal Housing and Land Plan 2024-2027, seeking clarity on fulfilled commitments, the availability of affordable rental properties, and outstanding measures and resources until 2027.
Keruin Martínez, the party's councillor, emphasised the need for accountability, stating, "Housing policy in Santander did not begin with the approval of a document. IU has been proposing ways to expand public rental for years and to give the City Council a proactive role. Now it is time to check what has changed and how the needs of those requiring housing are being addressed."
In December 2020, the Plenary unanimously approved a motion by Miguel Saro to develop a municipal housing plan with funding, a timeline, and monitoring mechanisms. Since its inception, IU has advocated for increasing the public rental stock and mobilising vacant housing. The Plan was presented in February 2024 and formally approved by the Local Government Board in November of that year.
One of IU's key demands in the Housing Plan was the inclusion of an Anti-Eviction Protocol, as stipulated in Law 12/2023 on the Right to Housing, which would coordinate with social services. Martínez noted, "This is a measure suggested by workers in this area, as there is a significant need for action and coordination to assist those affected by this situation," lamenting that the Popular Party (PP) has repeatedly ignored these needs.
Additionally, IU has promoted the inclusion of affordable rental options in the objectives of the Housing and Land Society. An agreement proposed in November 2023 aimed to reserve 15 properties in El Alisal for this purpose, ensuring they remain within the municipal portfolio. This led to the SVS modifying its statutes to incorporate affordable rental for the first time in Santander.
Martínez remarked, "This is a small step towards establishing a genuine public housing stock in our city, but it must be implemented efficiently and demonstrably." The forthcoming questions will seek to clarify the status of the 15 properties and distinguish those designated for affordable rental from those available for sale or with an option to buy.
Furthermore, IU will inquire whether a map of vacant housing has been created and what measures have been taken to facilitate its return to residential use. They will also ask about the existence of a permanent registry of applicants and what strategies have been developed to expand social rental and coordinate it with social services.
The IU councillor will also question the municipal aid for rehabilitation, accessibility, and energy efficiency, including the number of benefiting properties, as well as studies conducted on the impact of tourist rental properties on the residential housing stock. "It is not enough to announce promotions: we need to know how many properties are genuinely available for public rental, which households can access them, and what resources the City Council will allocate to meet the demand," Martínez concluded. Consequently, he will request an evaluation of the Plan and a specific timeline for pending actions during the Plenary session.
