Andorra Approves Public Housing Reforms to Ease Access for More Families

The Andorran government has approved changes to the regulations governing access to public housing, making it easier for more families to qualify amid rising housing pressures.

The Council of Ministers passed the reform on Wednesday, following an analysis of nearly 1,200 applications received since the applicant registry launched in 2024. Government spokesperson Guillem Casal said the updates address vulnerabilities not fully captured by prior rules, turning the public housing system into a more responsive tool. He described the regulations as "living," evolving based on real-world data, and noted previous adjustments had already expanded coverage for elderly applicants.

Key changes raise income thresholds, measured as multiples of the minimum wage. Single individuals remain at 2.2 times the minimum wage. Couples without children, couples with one child, and single-parent families with one child now qualify up to 2.5 times. The largest increase applies to couples with two or more children, raising the limit from 2.5 to 2.9 times the minimum wage—around 4,420 euros monthly, compared to roughly 3,812 euros previously.

The reform adds new eligible groups, including recipients of solidarity pensions for disability and those receiving CASS invalidity pensions incompatible with work. It also strengthens criteria for housing need, exempting applicants in separations or divorces—where they cannot use the family home—or those in homes mismatched to their household size from proving they spend over 30% of income on rent.

Adjudication procedures now allow two consecutive public offers per call when units are available, giving second chances to those who miss the first round or later meet criteria. All resolutions will publish in the BOPA. The scoring system shifts emphasis from pure income levels to residential needs, personal circumstances, and social factors.

Casal stressed the public housing park "has come to stay and grow," positioning it as a structural response to market challenges, akin to advanced European models, rather than solely for extreme vulnerability. Social groups like Caritas and the Red Cross have highlighted housing as a major strain on family budgets.