Andorra Parish Councils Back Affordable Housing Bill but Demand Tax Coordination

Andorra's parish councils have endorsed a government bill to boost private investment in affordable rental housing, while calling for greater coordination on tax breaks and urban planning rules they would oversee.

Housing Minister Conxita Marsol unveiled the package on Wednesday. The next day, at a Sant Julià de Lòria parish meeting, lead consul Cerni Cairat expressed support on behalf of the seven parishes and confirmed their willingness to collaborate.

The parishes stand ready to apply reductions in taxes, fees, and urban land allocations for developers committing homes to affordable rentals for 15 years. Cairat said the councils need to fully assess the scope of these incentives before finalizing implementation. He pointed out that Sant Julià de Lòria already offers a 90% cut on construction taxes for such projects, with other measures still under review.

"We agree to work on facilitating access to affordable housing," Cairat said, according to the Andorran News Agency. He voiced regret, however, that some elements were not developed jointly with parish bodies beforehand.

Cairat urged negotiations with the government to iron out details and seized the moment to push for a clear coordination mechanism across administrations. "This shows just how necessary a coordination law is between the parishes, the General Council, and the government on legislative matters," he said. Such a framework would allow parishes to shape proposals affecting their competencies before they advance to the General Council.

The parishes remain committed to the initiative but insist on consensus for aspects impacting their authority. No timeline has been announced for these discussions.