Cooperatives to buy housing at cost price: an overlooked formula to alleviate the access crisis?

Housing cooperatives in Spain, responsible for over 2.5 million homes since 1957, advocate for more public land and reduced taxes to address housing shortages. Despite their significant contributions, cooperatives face challenges such as high land costs and bureaucratic delays. They argue that they could triple their housing production if given the opportunity. The average cost of a cooperative home is around €312,022, with prices in Madrid reaching €5,000 per square meter. The cooperatives emphasize the need for a new state land law to expedite urban development and improve access to affordable housing. In Madrid, cooperatives account for a substantial portion of new housing developments, particularly for young people.