Abel Caballero has confirmed that the local government aims to bring a large number of the 12,000 vacant homes in Vigo into the regulated rental market. To achieve this, the rehabilitation aid programme will offer grants of up to €20,000 for renovations, energy certificates, and insurance.
During the upcoming meeting of the Urban Planning Board, further details will be provided regarding the awarding of three additional subsidies under the housing rehabilitation aid programme, which has a budget of €2.15 million, with the possibility of expansion. This programme not only finances renovation works but also covers the issuance of energy efficiency certificates and the hiring of insurance.
As explained by Caballero, the initiative aims to facilitate the entry of properties into the rental market, with grants of up to €20,000 available for eligible homes located on streets such as Colombia, Enrique Lorenzo, and Torrecedeira.
Additionally, the Urban Planning Board will announce the imminent opening of applications for the I Municipal Programme for Mobilising Vacant Homes, known as ViveVigo. Following its publication in the Official Bulletin of the Province (BOP), interested parties will be able to apply for aid from a programme with a budget of €700,000, which is set to continue next year as it has already been included in the municipal budget for 2027.
This pioneering initiative, which has seen success in regions like the Basque Country, positions the local council as an intermediary, negotiating affordable prices with property owners who agree to let their homes through the council for rental purposes. The local administration guarantees the agreed payment, even if the property remains unlet, and ensures that the property is returned in the same condition it was received.
The most notable feature of this programme is the direct involvement of the local council in the rental market for a period of five years. Furthermore, the council will cover part of the rent in cases where 30% of a family's income is insufficient to meet the agreed rental price with the property owner.
