A new battle for control over the affordable housing market is heating up in Spain. Alquiler Seguro has announced plans to manage 1,661 apartments in Asturias and Galicia. These properties are part of the large-scale Casa 47 project, set to become one of the country’s biggest public housing initiatives in history. Authorities expect that over 17,000 apartments will enter circulation in the first phase alone, and competition among management companies is expected to be fierce.
The requirements for bidders are strict: at least one year of experience managing social or affordable housing within the past three years. Alquiler Seguro claims its portfolio includes more than 28,000 rental contracts across Spain, and experience with both public and private clients positions the company as a frontrunner in this segment. The company emphasizes its long-standing management of apartments with various forms of government support and its cooperation with social funds TuTECHÔ and Primero H, which specialize in assisting vulnerable populations.
Contract Terms
The contract tendered by Casa 47 (formerly Sepes) covers the full management cycle of the housing stock: from accepting and preparing the apartments to handing them over to new tenants. The management company must not only put the properties in order but also handle all legal and administrative procedures related to the operation and leasing of the housing.
Special attention is given to supporting tenants: the future operator is required to implement an assistance system for families in difficult life situations and ensure early identification of housing loss risks. Mandatory services include legal counseling, debt settlement, support during lease terminations, and ongoing communication with Casa 47 to monitor management quality.
Social mission
Alquiler Seguro emphasizes the social importance of the project. According to their data, only 2.5% of the housing stock in Spain is state-owned, while the European average is 9%. In some countries, such as the Netherlands or Austria, the share of public housing exceeds 20%. Against this backdrop, Spain stands out as an outlier, with demand for affordable apartments consistently outpacing supply.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that about 96% of people left homeless cannot count on social housing due to a severe shortage of public housing. Alquiler Seguro estimates that more than 8.5 million Spaniards live in precarious housing conditions: this includes not only the homeless but also those forced to crowd into dilapidated buildings, shacks, or extremely cramped spaces.
Technology and oversight
Under the contract, the management company must introduce modern accounting and monitoring systems: from digital document management to online communication with tenants. It is essential to ensure transparency of all operations and for Casa 47 to be able to track the situation at each property in real time.
In addition, regular reporting is provided, as well as support for tenants at every stage—from submitting an application to the conclusion of the contract—along with conflict prevention and eviction avoidance measures. This approach aims not only to improve management efficiency but also to reduce social tensions in regions where affordable housing is a particularly acute issue.
Market outlook and prospects
Experts point out that the launch of Casa 47 and the involvement of major operators like Alquiler Seguro could become a turning point for Spain’s rental market. If the project proves successful, the public sector will gradually be able to close the gap with European leaders in social housing provision. However, competition among management companies remains fierce, and new contenders for managing residential stock in other regions may well emerge in the coming months.
At the same time, many analysts are skeptical about the likelihood of rapidly increasing the share of public housing. Bureaucratic delays, lack of funding, and complicated property transfer procedures could slow down the implementation of these ambitious plans. Nevertheless, the very emergence of such large-scale initiatives signals real change in the market.
RUSSPAIN notes that Alquiler Seguro is one of Spain’s largest residential property management companies. Founded over 19 years ago, the company operates nationwide and serves both private and corporate clients. Its portfolio includes tens of thousands of rental contracts, as well as initiatives to support vulnerable social groups. Alquiler Seguro is actively implementing digital technologies and collaborates with government agencies as part of programs to expand affordable housing.
