ABSTRACT
This chapter primarily analyses access to housing in Spain, and illustrates how the almost total absence of rented accommodation has meant that property ownership is the only realistic option for most. After a consideration of tenure and a brief review of housebuilding, the chapter focuses on investment, finance and subsidies, and analyses recent developments in housing policy. It particularly examines the current controversy and debate about economic policy for the years 1996–99 which aims to reduce the public debt, contain inflation and refine Spain’s approach to the European Union. Economic developments will have a considerable effect on housing policy even though the latter is not one of the policies to be harmonised and is the independent domestic responsibility of Spain and each of the other members of the European Union.
