The need for local and regional authorities to be equipped with effective tools to act with flexibility and efficiency, the central role of regions in building tailored solutions, and the importance of concrete measures on the ground—such as tax reductions and the expansion of public rental housing to support young people—were at the heart of the intervention by Isabel Urrutia de los Mozos, Regional Minister for the Presidency, Justice, Security and Administrative Simplification of the Government of Cantabria during a Committee of the Regions (CoR) Local Dialogue on housing organised in Santander.
Urrutia underlined that, while the housing crisis is widespread across the European Union, it has a distinctly local character, noting that its causes vary between territories even if its effects are felt across Europe, particularly among young people. She described housing as an issue of “absolute concern” for both citizens and institutions and stressed that it is a “key element for people’s life projects.”
She warned that rising property prices, pressure from tourist rentals and demographic changes are intensifying the problem, making access to housing increasingly difficult. In this context, she emphasised that regions and local authorities must play a central role in shaping solutions, given their proximity to citizens and their ability to respond to territorial realities. The objective, she stressed, is to ensure that housing no longer acts as a barrier, especially for young people seeking to live independently.
Turning to concrete action, Urrutia highlighted the measures implemented by the Cantabrian Government during the current legislative term, supported by an additional €65 million included in the latest budget, aimed in particular at facilitating access to housing for younger generations.
Key initiatives include reducing the Property Transfer Tax to 4% for young people, families and vulnerable groups, lowering the Stamp Duty rate to 1%—and to 0.1% in areas at risk of depopulation—and extending tax benefits up to the age of 40. The government has also increased the maximum value of subsidised housing to €300,000.
Further measures include tax deductions for rent and housing renovation, as well as the introduction of public guarantees covering up to 20% of the property price to support home ownership. In parallel, the regional government is advancing Cantabria’s first comprehensive Housing Law, aimed at increasing supply in both rental and ownership markets and improving access for vulnerable groups and essential workers.
These actions are complemented by the promotion of public rental housing, with 285 units planned across nine municipalities, initiatives to mobilise vacant housing through strengthened legal certainty for owners, and reforms to the Land Law to encourage construction in rural areas.
Urrutia concluded by reaffirming the regional government’s strong commitment to improving access to housing, particularly for younger people, so they can pursue life projects that are too often delayed by circumstances beyond their control.
Background
The CoR Local Dialogue in Santander, organised by the Government of Cantabria in cooperation with the regional Parliament and supported by the European Committee of the Regions, brought together young people, experts and institutional representatives. The event aimed to gather input and proposals on housing, with conclusions to be channelled to the European level through the European Committee of the Regions.
The EPP-CoR has launched a network on housing. Local and regional leaders can join the network and share best practices here: EPP-CoRHousingNetwork2026