The socialist PSPV published figures from the Ayuntamiento in Valencia on 6 October, showing that 3,231 owners in the city each have more than five homes. Of these, 901 are legal entities, meaning companies or other corporate bodies. Companies therefore account for around 27 per cent of these multiple-property owners. The PSPV cites municipal data and is calling for further information on the exact number of homes belonging to these 3,231 owners and on any that may be vacant.
The Socialists’ spokesperson on the city council, Borja Sanjuan, announced further parliamentary questions to establish more precise figures on the holdings. According to the PSPV, the proportion of legal entities among owners with more than five homes has risen in recent years. However, comprehensive time series showing the trend and distribution within this group are not yet available.
The Ayuntamiento points out that only around one per cent of all owners in Valencia have more than five homes. According to data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística the city has 414,988 homes, distributed among 327,122 owners. The information available so far does not show how many homes the 3,231 multiple-property owners hold collectively. The exact extent of vacancy in this group is also unknown.
The debate is politically charged because Generalitat Valenciana vacant homes belonging to large property owners – known in Spain as grandes tenedores – are subject to a specific levy. According to recent reports, the regional government takes in around 2.5 million euros . The precise definition of large property owners and the reporting requirements for vacant homes are set out in regional regulations.
The Socialists argue that a high proportion of large property portfolios held by companies could affect the rental market. For now, they are not drawing any specific conclusions or proposing measures; the data first needs to be clarified. The city council, for its part, says the registers are continually updated. The point of contention is whether additional municipal or regional tools are needed to bring vacant homes in large portfolios onto the market more quickly.
It is undisputed that the figures now made public improve the information available, but do not allow for a definitive assessment. Further clarification is still needed on the size of holdings among the 3,231 owners and on the number of homes that are actually vacant.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).