Fear of sanctions causes the percentage of owners of empty houses to drop to 3%.

A 3% of homeowners in Spain they are emptywhich is the same as last year’s figure, but one point lower than in 2022. This drop is caused housing law which came into force in 2023 and which, among other measures, includes fine owners of unoccupied apartments consisting of Additional Property Tax (IBI) which can reach 150%.

However, this fine does not apply to all empty houses, but only to unoccupied ones. permanent and continuous nature For period of two years or more Without good reason. Thus, according to Fotocasa Research, of these 3% of owners, only 0.1% meet the requirements necessary to be sanctioned.

“It’s positive that vacancy rates are trending downward, as every empty home is a missed opportunity to provide housing to those who need it most,” he says. Maria MatosResearch Director and Fotocasa Representative.

It states that the main reasons why these houses remain unoccupied are because they are unable be occupied and, in a smaller percentage, their owners are concerned or afraid that this will happen cause default on the part of the tenant, occupation or destruction owned. For this reason, Matos believes it is important that “effective policies are implemented to promote occupancy of these homes as an incentive to rehabilitate and rent out these properties.”

In percentage terms, among the main problems that force owners not to put their apartments on the rental market, one that stands out (16% of the total) is the presence of next person planning to move another 14% need this property carry out reforms preliminary inspections of real estate before selling or leasing it. This is the same percentage as those who claim that their apartment is empty because they have inherited and its owners do not agree on how it will be used.

Other reasons relate to the fact that the house has been on the market for less than a year. This ratio has increased over the past twelve months from 5% in 2023 to 10% today. Also, 9% of owners claim that their home is empty because is in progress; 7% leave it unused due to mistrust and fear that tenants do not pay and do not damage propertyand another 7% say they are afraid that they will not be able to get their home back if non-payment.

Having a vacant home avoids the risk of non-payment of rent or the risk of tenants damaging the property, but it raises other security concerns. insecurity due to possible illegal occupations. To which is it added that come to steal in it the deterioration which it may suffer from its abandonment or the expenses it generates.

And, despite the fact that these houses are empty, generate fixed costs that their owners have to deal with, such as IBI, utility costs, minimal consumption of materials such as water and electricity; expenses for maintaining and repairing the property and home insurance, if you have one.

By age segment the most older, from 55 to 75 years old, here is the one shown very worried for having an empty home, and while fear of occupation continues to top the rankings, the percentage of those who share this fear falls from 49% in 2023 to 43% this year, according to Fotocasa.

Price keep an empty house also worries 43% of these owners, followed by deterioration of living conditions (41%), break-ins or minor damage are aggravated, both equal 29% and cause concern among owners.

He 31% owners who have any empty house lkept in such conditions since more than five years ago and another 12% had been unemployed for 2 to 5 years.

The sum of these and other results gives 43% -48% in 2023 – owners who have an unoccupied house are assured that this was the case more than two yearsThis is the period that is specified in the Housing Act as necessary so that, if other conditions are met, councils can charge the IBI extra.