Barcelona Launches New €400 Monthly Rental Assistance for Seniors

Barcelona authorities opened applications on February 20, 2026, for a new rental assistance program where the benefit is up to €400 per month (maximum amount) and depends on meeting the criteria, which is to be paid directly to cover rental costs. The benefit is aimed at two particularly vulnerable groups: individuals over 55 years of age who live alone, and single-parent families. The key access criterion is documentation that rental expenses exceed 30% of the household's monthly income. The additional approximately €100 million for rental subsidies results from an agreement between the Government of Catalonia (Govern) and Comuns as part of budget negotiations and pertains to a program at the level of all of Catalonia; this is separate Simultaneously, it was agreed (as part of the Govern–Comuns agreement) to raise the upper income threshold for regional rental subsidies in Catalonia to €36,279 per year., which expands the pool of potential beneficiaries. The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, emphasized that the initiative aims to directly prevent situations where elderly people or single parents lose their homes due to high housing costs. The rental market in Barcelona has long been considered one of the most strained and expensive in Spain. Rental prices in the capital of Catalonia regularly exceed the national average, which is linked to the city's popularity among tourists, students, and employees of foreign corporations. Pressure on the housing market has sparked numerous social movements over the past decade demanding regulation. In the context of general housing challenges, alongside local government actions, financial media are drawing attention to the credit market situation. In press articles from the same day, experts warn that 2026 may be the "penultimate chance" for cheap mortgage subrogation. Subrogation, i.e., transferring a mortgage to another bank on better terms, allows for a significant reduction in monthly installments. „La subrogación de hipotecas en 2026: la penúltima oportunidad para ahorrar antes de que los precios suban” (Mortgage subrogation in 2026: the penultimate opportunity to save before prices rise) — ABC Experts indicate that the current period of moderate interest rates may soon end, and banks are preparing to increase margins. Therefore, those repaying old, expensive loans are advised to urgently analyze offers from competing institutions. [{"aspekt": "Maximum Annual Income Qualifying for Assistance", "przed": "Not specified in articles", "po": "€36,279"}, {"aspekt": "Target Group (Additional)", "przed": "Traditional Programs", "po": "Individuals 55+ and Single-Parent Families"}, {"aspekt": "Monthly Benefit Amount", "przed": "Various, often lower", "po": "€400"}] Applications for the new assistance can be submitted electronically via the city council's online platform. The application period is limited, and funds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until the allocated budget is exhausted. The program in Barcelona is an example of a local response to the nationwide housing crisis, which particularly affects individuals with stable but low incomes and seniors.