Housing campaigners launch parish assemblies in Andorra la Vella

The Coordinadora per un Habitatge Digne held its first parish assembly in Andorra la Vella, drawing about ten people to discuss housing worries and the group's next steps. Organizers used the meeting to review their work so far and gather residents’ concerns as they begin a cycle of local assemblies across the capital.

Attendees said the problems they reported are widespread rather than isolated. Recurring complaints included families stuck in what participants call the “son trap” — situations in which adult children remain registered at a family address and complicate access to housing or benefits — landlords refusing basic repairs, unjustified rent hikes, and charges that do not match actual fees. Many also described a recent wave of letters notifying tenants of imminent rent increases.

The Coordinadora, which is moving to formalize into a union-style organisation (legally registering as an association), has presented proposals to the government including creating a viability unit to set limits on how many people may live per square metre to counter overcrowded, informal shared flats, and establishing a cap on rental prices.

Participants voiced growing urgency over the situation. Some argued that future action will require street mobilisations, and stressed turnout will determine impact. “People have to get involved if we want to get anywhere,” one attendee said. Organisers warned that a large turnout would force authorities to take notice: “If 1,000 people show up, things will be different; if 100 show up, it’s easier to penalise and our claims won’t get where they need to go,” a spokesperson said.

The Coordinadora recalled the mass demonstration on 8 December 2023, when more than 3,000 people marched under the slogan “Enough already!” but said no comparable action is yet scheduled. The group hopes to organise something before the end of 2025, possibly informational pickets, while noting final decisions will depend on the outcomes of parish assemblies and the time needed to prepare. “This isn’t done in a day,” organiser Rebeca Bonache said.

The group also warned that the planned thawing of frozen rents will exacerbate tenants’ problems. Members say government measures produced a temporary “greenhouse effect” that has already run out, with pressures expected for 2026 arriving sooner than anticipated. The Coordinadora is awaiting a meeting with Housing Minister Conxita Marsol, which the minister has said should take place next week, but has not yet decided whether it will attend.

Organisers emphasised the role of young people in their work and said they intend to build a broad, democratic movement. They said further parish assemblies will track local problems and help decide collective actions to defend access to affordable, decent housing.