New measures are added, such as the option to also finance renovation or refurbishment work on the flat, the purchase of officially protected housing, and allowing local authorities to top up the loans granted by the ICF
The Government of Catalonia has given the green light to a new expansion of the Emancipation Loans line, created in 2025 to help young people access their first home while expanding the affordable housing stock in Catalonia. The programme, promoted by the Institut Català de Finances (ICF) and the Housing Agency of Catalonia (AHC), was created so that young people who can afford a mortgage but do not yet have enough savings to cover the deposit can buy a home that will be their main residence.
The ICF Habitatge Emancipació loan can finance up to 20% of the purchase price, with a limit of €50,000. At a 0% interest rate, borrowers do not have to repay the principal until they have finished paying off their mortgage, with a maximum grace period of 30 years. Once the mortgage is paid off, they have five years to repay it. To this end, the ICF has signed an agreement with the financial institutions participating in the programme to finance the remaining amount of the home purchase.
The new features introduced with today’s agreement are as follows:
- Broadening the purpose of the financing, so that the loan covers not only the purchase price of the home but also renovation or refurbishment work on the flat, always subject to the maximum limit of €50,000.
- Promoting agreements between the AHC, local authorities and the ICF so that these authorities can top up the amount of the loans from their own budgets to help their residents access their first home.
- Finally, the loans will also allow the purchase of officially protected housing. To this end, the AHC will approve or promote the legal amendments needed to make the homes’ pre-existing officially protected housing regime compatible with the limited-price housing regime arising from the granting of the loan.
From 35 to 40 years of age and loans for parking spaces and storage rooms
Last May, the Government of Catalonia decided to raise the maximum age to access the loans from 35 to 40 years inclusive, with the aim of increasing the number of people who can apply.
It also added the option to finance the purchase of parking spaces and storage rooms, provided they are in the same building as the home, even if they are not part of the same registered property, as well as easier access to the loan for newly built flats. It was also approved that the loan can be formalised to buy a new-build flat even if, at the time of signing, the property does not yet have its definitive cadastral reference.
More than 3,000 young people have bought their first home with the programme’s support
Since its launch in June 2025, more than 3,000 people have been able to access their first home thanks to loan-based support from the “Fons Públic d’Emancipació” (Public Emancipation Fund). This has resulted in more than 2,000 protected homes, either already classified or in the process of classification, across Catalonia. According to ICF data, the amount formalised exceeds €76 million. The average loan granted is €36,633, and the average age of borrowers is 29.6.