Almost 5% of families in Barcelona share a flat with others

The Municipal Data Office (OMD) In collaboration with the Social Rights Area, they have published the results of the exhaustive study, which multiplies by six the sample of the surveys carried out by the INE and Idescat, to the point of allowing analysis at the district level, they underline. They start at random from 10,787 buildings and the answers correspond to 4,671 dwellings, 4,552 households and 11,092 peoplebetween mid-November 2020 and the end of February 2021. Analysts therefore highlight that “they do not reflect the improvement in the city’s economic situation during the last three quarters of last year, but neither does the impact of the crisis current”.

The magnifying glass introduced in all those lives throws precise data on the population, with 751,378 households made up of 2.42 people on average, with a balance of more than one hundred thousand new residents than in the previous edition. It is remarkable that empty flats are estimated at 29,613 (out of 740,313) But the weight loss of residents who have always lived in the city (49.6%) is striking, six points below that in 2017. Those who have barely been a couple of years are 8.7 %, but in Ciutat Vella they reach 18%, which makes it the district with the most new residents, or passing through. In fact, more than half of the people between the ages of 25 and 34 have been in the city for less than 10 years.

That young fringe, which in many cases can opt for to share floor, together with the economic difficulties to face a rent that have led couples or families to share a roof, in all probability nourish 3.5% of the so-called “multihomes” (compared to 2.8% four years ago), where they add up different nuclei of coexistence with separation of economies (food and expenses), and that occupy differentiated areas of the dwelling. Excludes those of more than five so as not to distort the data with “collective flats”, they stand out. Together they represent 4.7% of the population (with a peak of 8% also in Ciutat Vella), in a context marked by the increase in tenants (they gain almost two points) compared to the decrease in residents in the property regime (55 .8%). Of the latter, just over a third are paying a mortgage.

There is a strong difference between those who have an indefinite lease and pay an average of 534 euros, compared to the 870 of the updated contracts (and which in 2017 were 744). Nor is the cost of one cheap. room for rent (423.8 euros). Among the tenants, 53.2% do so out of conviction and another would prefer to be an owner. Those who rent are mainly foreigners, while the houses only occupied by Spaniards are owned in two out of three cases.

The portrait of households also reflects a decrease in sole proprietorshipswhich lost more than three percentage points to 24%, while those of two people grow, which are already 35.4%. Another reduction is carried out by single parents (an adult and one or more under 25 years of age), who now make up 4.3% of the total. On the other hand, couples without children grew to represent 26.4%, and with children (28.9%). In general, almost everyone is satisfied with their address, and only 6% believe that they need a comprehensive reform, compared to 25.4% who would do some repairs. However, in areas with lower incomes, comprehensive rehabilitation has twice as many applicants.

Physically, Barcelona homes have an average surface area of ​​85.8 square metres, although the most numerous (29.3%) are those between 51 and 70 square metres. The mini flats of less than 50 meters, so sought after in the city for those who are emancipated, represent 13.1%, and at the other extreme only 6.5% of homes have more than 150 square meters. With still a painful 44% of homes that do not have an elevator, which complicate accessibility, especially in Ciutat Vella and Horta-Guinardó. And with 60.7% of cases not accessible by wheelchair. Regarding services, 92.4% already have internet.