The needs and effects of housing renewal policies in Spain: Implications for sustainability and accessibility

In Spain recent changes in regulations concerning the renewal of residential buildings have marked a turning point in the way in which the renewal work on condominium housing is approached. However, the financial crisis of 2008 has depleted public administration coffers and family pockets alike, giving rise to a set of problem related to housing renewal, such as lack of accessibility and difficulties in adapting to sustainability requirements. Nevertheless, this issue has not attracted much attention in the scholarly literature. In order to fill this gap this article aims to shed light on the housing renewal policies implemented in Spain, on their outcomes and on their implications for sustainability and accessibility. The article includes a case-study focused on the Basque Country Autonomous Community which shows a favourable evolution of the need, demand and execution of the rehabilitation tasks, in an adverse context of economic crisis. The implications for stakeholders, including policy-makers, are discussed.