Speculation has become one of the enemies of the house, guilty in part of a galloping crisis that punishes citizens. A double punishment because they have to pay for some houses that almost never adapt to the needs of the residents and that prevail individualization and isolation. For traditional rental and sale models is collaborative housing (Cohousing in its English terminology) , a form of access that has its roots in Denmark in the 1960s. Actually, the operation is like that of a cooperative – it is the most appropriate legal figure, since it offers the most guarantee of democratic management. These are communities designed, promoted and managed by its members and constituted by private use homes and common spaces to share services and care. The key is that many of these projects bet on the housing model in transfer of use, which in Practice means that their residents cannot do business with them. The permanent owner of the houses is the cooperative and this gives its use to the partners. If one leaves or dies, the initial quota that he paid his heirs or his heirs is returned. Who replaces him will pay the same cost, that is, the revaluation that could have occurred does not apply. «There is no horizontal division, the possibility of trade with housing is eliminated and remains outside the speculation and political changes,» says Rubén Méndez, of the Technical Secretariat of the Cooperative Housing Group in transfer of use in Reas (Network of alternative and solidary economy networks). Based on this umbrella there are all kinds of projects, some affordable and others not so much. There are some that stipulate to enter the payment of 20% capital (between approximately 5,000 and 40,000 euros), or even less (depending on whether there is funding and public subsidies). The rest, up to 80%, the cooperative can finance it and is the monthly canon that each partner will pay for the use of housing and common spaces. It is a model more similar to rent: residents will pay between 300 euros (or even less with public aid) and 700 euros per month. In any case, below market prices: as is a self -promotion, “it is 15% or 20% lower,” says Méndez, who pays 700 euros per month since summer in Ametxe, cooperative in transfer of use in Gordexola, Bizkaia . See in this model an alternative to the housing crisis in Spain by “improving access in all income sections” and believes that it is the referent model for the future. They are private cohousing that accumulate all or much of the capital At the beginning, that is, the partner must contribute the total cost of the house (including the price of the land), which requires a great disbursement. It is not suitable for all pockets, since the fee is between 100,000 and 300,000 euros and the monthly payments range from 900 to 1,500 euros, according to María del Carmen Cobano, representative of the Hispacoop cooperative area. «This, very common in some seniors (for older people), currently resembles the traditional purchase because capital accumulates on housing,» Méndez Apostille. Thus, the amount that is returned when marching is much greater, but the project becomes more inaccessible. Although, there are also those that do not accumulate capital, such as Can 70 or Solterra, in Catalonia, and Etxekide, in Pamplona.In Spain the penetration of collaborative housing is scarce and still seeks a more forceful support of administrations to settle, although each Even more autonomous communities have projects, sectoral articulation, legal framework or public aid. Today there are 179 projects underway distributed by the Spanish geography, of which 40 are inhabited and 59 with available soil or the building under construction. “There have been 100 homes inhabited in 2020 to exceed 2,000 in 2025; With the current dynamics they could be duplicated by 2028 ″, they calculate in areas. One of the first is in the Sants neighborhood (Barcelona). In 2018, Borda was inaugurated, a self -organized promotion of 28 homes in assignment of use. Catalonia, where 1,000 houses have been developed between 2016 and 2024, is the most advanced example thanks to public-cooperative collaboration. In the Community of Madrid, the senior trabensol complex, in Torremocha del Jarama, which started in 2013.'Cohousing' senior entrectant, in three songs (Madrid). Mans of the cohousing in progress are for older people, generally 55 years and older, who seek active and healthy aging. “We have finished the construction of the building on a plot of 3,000 square meters of our property and we are waiting for the corresponding municipal licenses to start inhabiting it. The partner quota is complete and we even have a waiting list, ”says Juan de Dios López, coordinator of the Advertising Commission, Admissions and casualties of Senior Cohousing Entrecantos, in three songs (Madrid). The complex consists of 35 apartments and to access you have to be between 50 and 70 years old and good physical and cognitive health. The investment is 260,000 euros per member (they are calculating the monthly fee that will be used to cover all the services offered by the cooperative, such as food, cleaning, salaries …). In this case it is a private initiative project that has chosen to accumulate capital over homes.
Much more than a roof
In Spain there are 12 seniors working and about 20 in development. More than a roof, they are an alternative to the usual residences and unwanted loneliness. Collaborative housing is presented to solve problems of social, environmental and economic order. And especially in those destined for older people, since it is configured as a space where to live with autonomy. «It is a solution to deal with the growing aging and the social changes facing society,» says Cobano. In addition to Senior, there are intergenerational complexes, women, LGTBIQ+ people, citizens with functional or young diversity. «Each project is unique and unrepeatable, they are tailored to each group and designed by the group,» says Méndez.The partners observe the works of intergenerational 'cohousing Axuntae, in the town of Caraviés (Asturias), in an image assigned. years. «It is intergenerational, it is aimed at all kinds of people from 0 to 70 years,» says Mary Asun Rodríguez, president of Axuntase, one of those women who began to shape the project when he retired, with 64 years. It now has 74. These are 30 homes and 1,000 meters of common areas (community dining room, laundry …) that are under construction. «In summer we will be living.» The investment, financed through ethical banking, has exceeded seven million euros. Each partner pays 165,000 euros. Rodríguez complains about the lack of aid. “We claim the community look because we are much more competitive than the private sector and because our benefit is to do things well. We generate a lot of wealth. ” A petition, together with that of better taxation, which is common in the sector. «Right now grievances occur that seriously penalize a model that offers much more social value than other solutions,» says Méndez.