Andorra Contacts 800 Empty Flat Owners to Ease Housing Crisis

The Andorran government has contacted more than 800 owners of empty flats, encouraging them to list the properties for rent as part of efforts to combat the housing shortage.

The outreach was spotlighted in a satirical column by Helena Anillo in *Altaveu* on 23 January 2026, titled "Trucades sense resposta" ("Calls without response"). It depicts Housing Minister Anna Maria Marsol repeatedly phoning owners who fail to pick up, highlighting difficulties in mobilising unused housing stock—a central element of policies on rentals and economic activation.

No details have emerged on response rates or results from the campaign. The push comes as Andorra faces sustained pressure on housing from population increases and tourism.

A follow-up column by Anillo on 24 January, "I els actius?" ("And the actives?"), shifts focus to active residents. It argues that, with recent restrictions on passive residents, authorities should now scrutinise whether active ones truly contribute or merely strain resources. Tagged under immigration and government policy, the piece questions the balance in residency categories.

Economic context includes forecasts of a €60 million budget surplus for 2025 and a 6.8% increase in active businesses, exceeding 14,000 establishments. Infrastructure updates note traffic delays and parking shortages from Joan Martí roadworks, alongside a third government bid to construct the Serrat hydroelectric plant.

Safety incidents include a serious accident during crane removal at the Borda Nova building site. In La Cortinada, assailants targeted a young man over debts allegedly tied to his late father's activities, with online trends linking it to possible drug-related claims in the parish.