Cihuelo criticised the housing policies of the governments led by Natalia Chueca and Jorge Azcón, saying that since the mayor took office, housing prices in Zaragoza have risen by 27%. According to data presented by the PSOE, Aragón has also recorded a 43.19% increase in housing prices. The Socialist councillor further warned that buying a home is becoming increasingly attractive as an investment, with an estimated return of 12.4%, but increasingly difficult for those who need one to live in.
One of the figures causing the most concern among Socialists is the surge in room rentals. According to Cihuelo, during August and September, one of the major property portals listed around 600 rooms in Zaragoza, many of them costing more than €500 a month, with some advertisements reaching €1,200. The councillor stressed that sharing a flat is not a problem when it is a choice, especially among young people or students, but it is when it becomes the only alternative for those unable to afford the cost of an entire home.
The PSOE has also questioned whether the construction of new homes will be accompanied by genuinely affordable prices. According to data provided by Cihuelo, the City Council plans to build around 28,000 homes in 21 major urban developments, of which approximately 13,000 would have some form of protection. However, the Socialists have called for more permanent public housing, the mobilisation of vacant homes, the protection of public land and the renovation of neighbourhoods.
To address this issue, the municipal group will request an appearance at the next Urban Planning Committee meeting in September to find out what measures Chueca's government is taking to ensure that the homes being developed, including those built on public land, are genuinely affordable.
