The Government and the Town Hall of Sóller are promoting three public housing projects that will total 32 affordable rental flats, the first in over two decades in the municipality.
The old Hospice of Sóller, a building from the late 18th century, will be transformed in the coming months into a development of 13 public rental homes managed by the Balearic Institute of Housing (Ibavi). The rehabilitation, presented on Monday by the Minister of Housing, José Luis Mateo, and the Mayor, Miquel Nadal, is part of a plan that includes two other projects in the municipality: the old Fantasio cinema and the former Ses Marjades school. In total, 32 public homes will represent the first rental offering from Ibavi in Sóller and the first public housing initiative in the town in over 20 years.
Priority for long-term residents and those over 60
The homes in the Hospice will be primarily allocated to individuals who can prove a minimum of 18 years of residence in Sóller, a requirement that will also apply to the other two developments. Additionally, a portion of the flats in the Hospice will be reserved for those over 60 years old, while the Fantasio project will be mainly aimed at young people from the municipality. Rents will not exceed 500 euros, as authorities indicated during the presentation.
Investment of 2.7 million and heritage recovery
The rehabilitation of the old Hospice, which has an investment of 2.7 million euros from the Illes en Transformació plan, will respect the original elements of the building: load-bearing walls, wooden beams, arches, and historical finishes. The Councillor for Social Services, Llum Castañer, defended the transfer of these properties to Ibavi:
“These are buildings that are close to collapse, abandoned, and now they receive a new life to meet housing needs in Sóller. We are not losing heritage; we are recovering it.”The Town Hall has already transferred the Fantasio and the Hospice, and will soon do the same with the old Ses Marjades school.
Currently, Ibavi manages only one public housing unit in Sóller, so these developments will multiply the municipality's affordable rental stock by 32. Work on the Hospice is expected to begin in early 2027, and the flats could be ready by the end of that same year, according to the Government's forecasts.
For the residents of Sóller, the news represents a breath of fresh air in a strained real estate market, where free rents have exceeded an average of 800 euros. The 32 homes will not solve the underlying problem, but they are the first step after decades of inaction. And on top of that, with a taste of recovered heritage.
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