Housing in Xàbia: Families Demand Homes That Actually Fit Their Needs

The September full council meeting spent hours debating housing and came out with very little clarity. And so, it wasn’t until the public comment period that the real story emerged: the housing crisis in Xàbia is hitting families hard.

Madres Poderosas, a proactive local association giving a voice to women and mothers, urged that new public housing projects be realistic and meet families’ actual needs. “Priority should be given to two- and three-bedroom homes,” explained Glendys Cordero, speaking alongside fellow members of the group. “We’re worried that apartments reserved for rental could end up too small to suit real family life.”

The association also warned that the 66 new units planned across two upcoming developments – on land given away by the town hall, tendered by the Generalitat Valenciana, and built by Fama Rehabilitaciones – could reach prices that make it virtually impossible for many families to get a mortgage or loan. Even with a price cap of €2,400 per square metre, the homes remain out of reach for many young people and families.

This first public housing promotion in years includes 82 apartments with a swimming pool. Sixteen units will be allocated to social rental by the town hall, but they are tiny – between 30 and 44 square metres. “They’re essentially shoe-box apartments, not suitable for families,” said Madres Poderosas. They also questioned the need for a pool, suggesting the space could be used for additional affordable housing instead.

Mayor Rosa Cardona (PP), thanked by the group for her willingness to collaborate, explained that the 82-unit development (the largest apartments are 68 sqm) follows a study conducted by the Entitat Valenciana d’Habitatge i Sòl, part of the Generalitat Valenciana. She emphasized that the town hall is working on other projects – including one on municipal land near Parque Montaner, close to the historic centre – which will better accommodate larger families.

“People always talk about young people struggling to move out, and that’s true, but families are struggling too,” said Laura Goberna of Madres Poderosas. “Rents in Xàbia are so high that we simply can’t afford them.”

The association highlighted real-life examples of the housing crisis in the coastal, tourist-heavy town. One mother with two children pays over €1,100 in rent every month. Another family with two kids has lived for three years in a single room in a house shared with other families. In another case, Madres Poderosas helped a family at risk of eviction find a home in Gata de Gorgos. “Many families work hard and still can’t find a place to live, or they are forced to leave because rent keeps rising. These aren’t isolated cases,” stressed Goberna.

The housing crisis is visible on the streets, and urgent action is needed. During the plenary session, the council voted to extend the suspension of licenses for new tourist rentals in the town centre, the port, and the Arenal for another six months. The moratorium, now in effect for a year, will be informed by a study by the University of Alicante on the impact of holiday rentals, which found the port area is already saturated.

The PSPV criticized the local government (PP, CpJ, and Vox) for failing to present their own concrete solutions based on the university’s research after a year of the moratorium. Meanwhile, the councillor responsible for Housing, Juanlu Cardona (PP), highlighted that the freeze has already reduced the number of holiday rental homes by 1,840, down from 6,161 in August 2024 to 4,321.

Adapted from an original article published in Levante EMV: Una mamá con dos hijos que paga 1.100 euros de alquiler y familias que viven apretujadas en habitaciones: el drama de la vivienda en Xàbia