Appointment as coordinator of the Southern European Housing Working Group of the ENHR network

Dr. Héctor Simón has been appointed coordinator of the Southern European Housing Working Group of the European Network for Housing Research, which brings together more than 800 researchers and 100 European institutions and aims to be a platform to encourage research in housing from an interdisciplinary perspective. The group addresses a variety of issues related to housing policies in Southern European countries and meets with an annual frequency. More information is available at https://www.enhr.net/southern.php.

Maltese Law

5/11/2019: the Parliament of Malta unanimously approved the Private Residential Leases Act, a new law that will come into force on the 1st January 2020 and that will regularise the liberalised private rented sector in Malta.  The new law will make it obligatory for every lessor to register the rental agreement with the Housing Authority and it has also fixed a minimum contractual duration of one year, with the lessor being further bound to notify the lessee about any eventual renewal or termination of the agreement at least three months before its expiration.  The Private Residential Leases Act is the product of a research team co-ordinated by Kurt Xerri, a PhD graduate of the UNESCO Housing Chair, who is currently serving as an advisor to the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Accommodation, the Hon. Roderick Galdes.

https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2019-11-06/local-news/Parliament-approves-rent-reform-law-6736215772

Predoctoral seminar

Second predoctoral seminar today with PhD candidates at the Unesco Housing Chair where they presented their progress on housing research. Have participated Paula Rodríguez, Silvana Canales, Andrés Labella and LLuc Font (06/11/2019).

 

Ministerio de Fomento

On October 23, Prof. Dr. Sergio Nasarre and Dr. Estela Rivas met with the Director General of Architecture, Housing and Land, Mr. Javier Martín, to transfer the research carried out by the Chair.

European Commission

Prof. Sergio Nasarre participated in a session with the European Commission in Brussels on October 3, 2019, with the purpose of analyzing the mechanisms in Europe to favor the change of bank by mortgage debtors.

I TRAINING DAYS OF THE COLLEGE OF ESTATE MANAGERS OF TARRAGONA.

On September 28th took place in the building of the Seminary of Tarragona, the second session of the I Training Days organized by the College of Estate Managers of Tarragona. The two axes of debate were the breaches in terms of accessibility to the housing stock and the difficulties in achieving a balance between work and family life for their professional group, taking into account that the timetable for the celebration of the meetings of the owners’ communities are usually at late afternoon. The Housing Chair participated in the roundtable on accessibility, together with the ECOM, entity that looks after the rights of people with disabilities, the president of the College of Architects of Catalonia, a representation of the College of Technical Architects and the representative of the College in Salamanca, moderated by Mr. Enrique Vendrell.

Because of the deficiencies presented by the housing stock and the economic difficulties that to some owners represent to be able to execute the necessary adaptation works in buildings, the Board proposes to create a specific work commission to investigate together with the Housing Chair about new lines of action to enhance the effectiveness of the regulations in force, both public and private law.

 

The Threshold

The UNESCO Housing Chair has presented “The Threshold simulation experience to raise awareness about Homelessness” European Research Night of the URV on the 27th of September in Tarragona.

https://llindar.cat

European Research Night

The Chair will participate at the European Research Night of the URV on the 27th September 2019 at Plaça Corsini in Tarragona. Researchers will present “THE THRESHOLD”, A SIMULATION EXPERIENCE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS” at 16:30.

http://tarragona.nitdelarecerca.cat/ca/programacio/a/2/el-llindar-una-simulacio-per-sensibilitzar-sobre-el-sensellarisme

 

New book chapter: Comentarios a la ley catalana 15/2009, de 22 de julio, de mediación

Emma López contributed to the book Comentarios a la ley catalana 15/2009, de 22 de julio, de mediación en el ámbito del derecho privado y concordantes, published by Marcial Pons and directed by Prof. from the University of Barcelona, ​​Isabel Viola Demestre. It is a collective work that analyzes in depth the mediation Law in force in Catalonia.