Andorra Launches €21.6M Tender for 150 Affordable Rental Flats

The Andorran government has launched a tender to acquire buildings containing around 150 flats for affordable public rental housing, backed by an initial €21.6 million allocation that could rise to €35 million depending on bids received.

Approved by the executive on Wednesday, the process opens Monday, June 15, and closes June 30, allowing individuals and legal entities to submit properties. Each building will undergo independent valuation, after which owners must propose prices not exceeding the appraised value. A scoring system will then rank submissions based on factors including structural condition, location, unit count, accessibility, proximity to the centre, and availability of amenities like parking. Properties needing the least work for occupancy—ideally ready in two months rather than three—will score highest.

Minister for Presidency, Economy, Work and Housing Conxita Marsol outlined the details during Thursday's post-Council press conference. She highlighted informal interest already shown, with at least three or four nearly habitable buildings, some in central areas. "Buildings should be as finished as possible to move forward quickly," she said, adding that appraisals would likely take the longest and that the government aims to centralise them with one firm for consistency.

Purchases could begin by late summer if the process runs smoothly, with flats assigned before year-end to grow the public rental stock from about 500 to roughly 650 units. The funds form part of a €35 million extraordinary credit approved by the General Council on May 7, drawn from last year's €88 million surplus. This breaks down as €21.6 million for buildings, €6.4 million for land, €6 million for construction, and €1 million for project design, with flexibility to reallocate or expand as required. "If these 21 million have to become 35 million, it will be done," Marsol affirmed.

The initiative builds on more than €100 million invested in housing this legislature. Separately, the government's new 137 phone line and WhatsApp channel for rental queries has fielded around 40 calls since Monday, mainly on contract extensions, handled so far by housing department staff.