The municipality of Berango is set to add 11 protected homes to its rental market. Although construction is still underway, the City Council will open the application period for these subsidized flats in the Arana area in the coming days. The call, which will be activated after its publication in the Official Gazette of Bizkaia, will allow interested parties to submit applications for a period of twenty days.
The development is located in a sector close to the urban core, completing the expansion between Karabiazpi and Arene Bidea streets. This location, defined in the General Urban Planning Plan –approved in 201–, began its journey in 2019. It is now in the final phase of construction, with completion expected in July, when the adjudication process would take place. The building houses one and two-bedroom homes, all with terraces and additional amenities such as a garage and storage room. Furthermore, they include energy efficiency systems, such as geothermal installation, solar panels, and underfloor heating.
To access these homes, applicants must meet requirements such as not owning another property, demonstrating annual income between 15,000 and 50,000 euros, and providing financial guarantees, including a deposit, additional security deposit, and a direct family member's guarantee. Rental prices for the new flats in Berango vary according to the income of each cohabiting unit and the characteristics of each flat. Amounts start from just over 330 euros per month and reach 900. For example, in a property of more than 69 square meters, a person or cohabiting unit with a salary exceeding 35,000 euros will pay 910.29 euros in monthly rent. To these amounts, the community fee is added, estimated at around 100 euros for one-bedroom homes and about 135 for two-bedroom homes, including general services and facility maintenance.
According to the ordinance for the concession –endorsed in 2023– priority will be given to those who can prove a connection to the municipality. Firstly, registration with a minimum seniority of three years in the last six will be valued, subsequently extending to other profiles if homes remain available, including recent residents, people with employment in the area, or inhabitants of the Uribe Kosta region. Applications can be processed both online and in person through the developer Nera Homes.
This initiative comes at a time when price limitations in other municipalities are being discussed due to the housing crisis and the urgent housing measures plan recently approved in Euskadi. Furthermore, the locality faces sustained demographic growth. In the last fiscal year, 8,400 inhabitants were registered. However, the real estate supply has not evolved at the same pace, which has driven prices to over 3,800 euros per square meter.
