The Generalitat to Fund up to 60% of Property Purchases for Over 40s

The Govern of the Generalitat has announced the launch of a new shared ownership and purchase model for protected housing, through which the public administration will finance up to 60% of the property acquisition cost. The initiative was presented by the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, on 29 de septiembre de 2026 and detailed on 3 de octubre de 2026 by the Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica, with the aim of facilitating access to property for people aged 40 and over with stable incomes who do not qualify for conventional mortgage loans.

What's Changing

The measure introduces a public-private shared ownership model with real rights of use to the Catalan market. Instead of the buyer assuming 100 % of the purchase price, the Generalitat acquires a percentage of the property's ownership, funded by an initial allocation of 100 millones de euros announced by the Govern, aimed at acquiring around 2.000 properties primarily from disinvestments by large landlords.

The announced scheme establishes two distinct tiers based on the applicant's age group:

• Buyers aged 40 to 55: the Generalitat will finance 50 % of the property's value and the buyer will cover the remaining 50 %. The buyer will have a right of use and possession for a period of 50 años.
• Buyers aged 56 and over: the administration will cover up to 60 % of the cost, with the individual contributing the complementary 40 %, with a guaranteed right of residence for 40 años.

During the term of the agreement, the individual exercises use as the owner: they can transfer or sell their ownership share and bequeath it to their heirs for the remaining years. To prevent speculation, the Generalitat will retain the preferential right of first refusal and will safeguard the property's classification under a protected housing regime. Upon expiry of 40 or 50 años, the resident or their successors may purchase the autonomous community's share or return full ownership to the Generalitat's public housing stock.

Who it Affects

The programme is specifically aimed at buyers over 40 años old registered in Cataluña who have regular incomes or stable salaries but lack the 20 % or 30 % upfront savings cushion required by traditional banks for down payments and conveyancing costs (such as the Property Transfer Tax or notary and registry fees). It also addresses senior profiles who face banking hurdles due to age limits at loan maturity.

What this Means if You're Looking for Property in Cataluña and the Vallès

In regions with high demand pressure, such as the Vallès Occidental, the Vallès Oriental and the metropolitan areas of Barcelona, where sale prices require considerable initial outlays, this formula radically reduces the barrier to typical property ownership. However, as it involves a co-ownership regime with the Administration, the buyer must consider that the property is subject to a fixed price for protected housing and subsequent disposal limitations in the open market.

What is Still Unknown

The plan is currently announced and awaiting official publication in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (DOGC). Therefore, the measure is not yet in force, nor is the application period open.

Substantial aspects still need to be detailed in the regulatory framework, such as the exact income thresholds (based on the Indicador de Renda de Suficiència de Catalunya or IRSC), the beneficiary selection procedure, the distribution of community expenses such as the local property tax (IBI) or extraordinary building levies, and the activation date for the first public call, provisionally scheduled by the Departament de Territori for enero de 2027.

What to Do Now

If you meet the age profile and are looking to acquire your first home:

• Review your savings situation and real borrowing capacity to cover between 40 % and 50 % of a purchase.
• Prepare and update basic employment documentation (income tax returns and employment contracts).
• Await the publication of the definitive terms in the DOGC to understand the access conditions, residency requirements, and asset limits before committing to reservations or deposit contracts (arras).