Registering for protected housing (vivienda protegida)

Key rules

• Regional system: Each region has its own register, names and rules, so register with the region where you want to live.
• No guarantee: Being registered only makes you eligible; homes are awarded by lottery, points or order of registration.
• Buying: A protected home you buy must be your main home, cannot be rented out, and has resale limits.
• Renewal: Registration expires, so renew it and report changes in household or income.

How the register works

Protected housing is not national. Each region runs its own register of applicants, and you must be on it to be considered for most protected homes. Names and rules differ by region. Examples are the Registre de Sol·licitants in Catalonia, the Registro de Demandantes in Andalucía, Madrid and Valencia, and Etxebide in the País Vasco.

To find yours, search your region's housing website for "registro de demandantes de vivienda protegida". You can usually apply online with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, or in person.

You state your household, your income and the type of housing you want: rent or buy, and in which areas. The register checks your data and gives you a registration number. Keep it.

Registration does not last forever. In some regions, such as Andalucía and Catalonia, it is often valid for 3 years. You must renew or update it, and report changes in your household or income. Check the exact period with your region.

What you need

You will need ID, proof of address, proof of income, proof of family situation and a declaration that you own no other housing. The documents list below has the details. Each region sets its own exact list. Many regions can get your tax data directly if you authorize it, which saves you paperwork.

Income limits

Limits are set as multiples of IPREM, an official public income index, applied to your household's adjusted income. Typical maximums are around 3.5 times IPREM for general-regime housing, up to about 5.5 times for the price-limited regime and 1.5 to 2.5 times for special regimes. Rental limits are often 3 to 4.5 times IPREM. A larger family can raise your ceiling.

Many regions also set a minimum, often around 1 time IPREM, so you can show you can afford the home. Multiples vary by region and by promotion, so confirm the figures for the promotion you want.

How homes are allocated

Being registered does not guarantee a home. Promoters must choose buyers or tenants from the register. The method depends on the region and the promoter:

• Most use a public lottery (sorteo) among registered applicants who meet the requirements.
• Some use points, weighted by need, time living in the area and income. Catalonia and the País Vasco use both lottery and points.
• Some use order of registration.

Quotas are reserved for groups such as young people, over-65s, people with disabilities, large families and victims of violence. Check which you may qualify for. A list of chosen applicants and substitutes is drawn up, and then your documents are checked.

Rent or buy

Renting. Rents are capped per square metre of useful area, under your region's rules. Leases usually run a fixed period of several years, sometimes with an option to buy. Income thresholds can be lower in some cases. Renting suits you if you may move on, or cannot fund a purchase.

Buying. The sale price is capped per square metre. You must live in the home as your main home and move in within a set time. You cannot rent it out or leave it empty. Resale is restricted, typically for 10 to 30 years (often 10, and indefinite in some regions). Resale prices are capped, and the administration has first refusal on a sale (tanteo and retracto). Buying suits you if you plan to stay long term.

In both cases you must not own other housing. Qualification periods vary by region.

If you are unsure which to choose, see the decision below.

Choosing between options

Should you apply for protected housing to rent or to buy?

• Rent: You do not want to commit to a purchase or resale limits. Rents are capped per square metre, the lease runs a fixed number of years, and some come with an option to buy.

• Buy: You want a home of your own and can live in it as your main home. The sale price is capped, you cannot rent it out or leave it empty, and resale is limited for years, often 10, with the administration holding first-refusal rights.

Choose rent if you want flexibility, and buy if you will live there long term. Either way, you must not own other housing, and your household income must fall within the limits for that type of promotion.

Documents you need

• Your DNI, or your NIE with residence card or certificate if you are a foreigner.

• Empadronamiento certificate (proof you are registered at your address), often a household one showing everyone who lives with you.

• Your latest income tax return (IRPF) or an income certificate from the tax agency. If you have no tax return, payslips or an employment history report work instead.

• Proof of your family circumstances, such as a family book, large-family card or marriage certificate.

• A declaration that you do not own other housing.

• A disability certificate or proof of gender-violence status, if either applies to you.

Checklist

• Find your region's register of protected housing applicants on its housing website.

• Fill in the household, income and housing-type details the form asks for.

• Authorize the tax agency to share your income data if your region allows it.

• Keep the registration number the register gives you.

• Note when your registration ends and renew or update it before then.

• Report any change in your household or income to the register.

• If you are chosen, send the documents the promoter asks for. If your file is incomplete, you will be given a limited time to fix it, so check the deadline in the notice.

Frequently asked questions

How long does my registration last?

It is valid for a set period that depends on your region. In Andalucía and Catalonia it is often 3 years. You must renew or update it before it expires, and report any change in your household or income.

What if I have no tax return to show my income?

Give your payslips or an employment history report instead. In many regions you can also authorize the tax agency to send your income data directly, which saves you gathering paper copies.

Does being registered guarantee me a home?

No, Registration only puts you in the pool. Most promotions pick winners by public lottery or by points, with reserved quotas for groups such as young people, large families and people with disabilities. Substitutes are also drawn, and your documents are checked after that.

Can I rent out a protected home I bought?

No, you can't rent it out or leave it empty. The home has to be your main residence. Resale is also limited for a set period, often 10 years, with price caps and a right of first refusal for the administration.