The main actors of the Spanish construction sector, together with the two large unions (CCOO and UGT), have demanded a plan of action to activate the rehabilitation of the country’s housing stock. In their opinion, the reactivation of the construction sector is the key to overcome the crisis caused by the health emergency.

In Spain, the average age of buildings is 46 years while that of the population is 43. This is the data being used by associations like CNC, CSCAE, CGATE, ACPEspaña to highlight the need for a real estate rehabilitation plan that will also work as an impulse to overcome the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus.

Having such old housing stock creates problems of sustainability, energetic efficiency and accessibility. The statement issued by the associations points out that Spanish buildings are the highest consumers of energy in the EU and are responsible for 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. Also, four out of every five buildings do not have adequate thermal insulation levels or none at all, have uncontrolled filtrations of air that impact energy consumption and do not use efficient generating systems.

The associations that have pushed the demand for improved urban planning, also note that there are important deficiencies in accessibility. Currently in Spain, it is estimated that close to a million people cannot enter or leave their homes without outside help. This situation could become worse in the following years due to the aging of the population, meaning the improvement of accessibility is urgent.

Setting up a housing rehabilitation plan in Spain will be, in additional to a starting point for the adaptation of sustainability and accessibility criteria set by the EU, a good opportunity to generate employment in a very critical moment for the economy.