Alternative housing market: collective ownership of real estate, neither purchase nor rental.

Last Monday, while sipping coffee in the kitchen of the La Chalmeta public building in Barcelona, Carlos Alberto Rodriguez noted that he lives in a housing cooperative based on usage rights: "Besides the fact that rent on the market is twice as expensive, we have a connection to home here that money can't buy; it gives us long-term stability that is priceless." Next to him, Antje Morautze added, "It's helpful to create a community, to share, not to face economic difficulties, and it's fantastic for the children." And Tomoko Sakamoto, originally from Japan, sighed at the thought of growing old far from her homeland "and not being alone," even though she has family here and there.

In Spain, traditional housing models

The (private or public, purchase or rental) options are so hegemonic that explaining what housing cooperatives based on usage rights are is almost easier by pointing out what they are not: they are neither private nor public; their ownership is collective; and they are neither a purchase nor a rental. They are also referred to as co-housing or co-living, and this is a way to access housing inspired by countries like Denmark or Uruguay, where buildings are owned by the cooperative. Participants pay an entrance fee to build with financing from ethical banks (ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 euros in most cases); and a monthly fee for the use of the housing (from 250 to 700 euros). If a participant leaves, the cooperative returns their initial contribution, which will be covered by their replacement.

The land can be transferred.

The city administration usually leases apartments for 75 years to ensure they are protected; or they can be privately owned by a cooperative. Buildings also allocate part of their space for communal areas: lounges or workspaces, a large kitchen, laundry facilities, gardens, or even guest rooms.

The pioneers of this model are the Catalan cooperative Sostre Cívic.

Founded 20 years ago. "Our approach is a political decision, seeking alternatives to buying or renting apartments, utilizing the advantages of each model: buying is permanent, while renting is more affordable. We create housing that lasts forever and at cost price," explains representative José Telles. Over the past 20 years, they have completed 12 inhabited buildings and have another 12 at various stages of development (from forming cooperatives to construction, including land acquisition). Catalonia was the initiator: there are already 23 inhabited buildings and 40 at different stages of development. In total, 1,230 housing units. In the rest of Spain, there are three existing cooperatives and 46 in the project stage. In total, there are 26 existing cooperatives and 86 in development in Navarre, Madrid, Asturias, Galicia, Valencia, Murcia, as well as in the Balearic and Canary Islands, according to data collected by the network of Spanish cooperatives and the Reas economy.

"This is the third way to access housing."

“Cultural change, spaces designed by those who occupy them, and at cost,” notes Ruben Menendez from the technical secretariat of the state group uniting housing cooperatives based on usage rights. “You empower yourself because you create alternatives in housing. And this is more powerful in the long term than policies that are merely reactive, like aid that needs to be provided but does not create a sustainable future perspective.”

In Catalonia, another major supporter of the model is the La Dinamo fund.

After the La Borda cooperative (in Barcelona, opened in 2018), known for being the first and receiving international awards, some of its members decided to create a fund to utilize the accumulated knowledge and replicate the model. The fund supports other cooperatives, 95% of which are public housing, on land transferred by city administrations or acquired, sometimes in partnership with local organizations.

• The DynamoIt also tries to "mobilize maximum private property for the cooperative path [both land and buildings for reconstruction], in order to take it out of private ownership and operate based on cooperative logics."

In the case of housing cooperatives with transfer of use

Classified as VPO (government-protected housing), participants in the buildings must meet the requirements for public housing applicants. Since 2011, the municipality of Barcelona has transferred 17 plots (six with 125 already built and occupied apartments), and the housing advisor Joan Ramon Riera notes that "the need for housing is so great that the municipality's intention is to attract public, private, and socio-economic agents." "Housing cooperatives should play a significant role," he supports.

There are also cooperatives for elderly people.

They are ready to grow old in a community (but each in their own apartment) and not be a burden to their children or end their days in a nursing home. In this case, the land is on the market, which increases costs. Trabensol (Workers in Solidarity) was the first. It is located in Torremocha de Jarama (70 kilometers from Madrid) and has 54 apartments where 80 people aged between 64 and 91 live. The cooperative was founded in 2002, and they moved in 2013. Here, the initial contribution for participants is 150,000 euros, and the monthly payment is 1,300 euros, which includes meals, cleaning, and laundry, says Juan Imedio, a member of the communication committee. "We decide for ourselves how to grow old," he summarizes.

Walden XXI - another senior project

Participants, retirees, have purchased a closed hotel in Sant Feliu de Guíxols (Costa Brava, Girona). They hope to have lunch in their new apartments by Christmas 2026. This is reported by José María Ricart, 74 years old. They contributed 60,000 euros, and the monthly payment, which includes meals, services, and medical care, will range between 1,800 and 2,100 euros. "The amounts are significant, but most of us own apartments; it's like moving to another house. At the end of our lives, we will return to the community, just like at 20 years old," Ricart laughs, defending the "assembly model, private but opening the way." "It will be a structure that will endure; in the future, there won't be nursing homes for everyone," adds Aurora Moreno, another participant.

Returning to La Chalmeta in Barcelona, Carlos Alberto, Antje, and Tomoko finish their coffee and head to work. They get up from the table in a spacious and bright area, which also has sofas and four washing machines for the participants. The building is located in La Marina del Prat Vermell, the newest district of Barcelona, which has been developing for a decade and will have 30,000 residents. They are pioneers in accessing housing, but also in embracing this peripheral area of the city.