Overview of the Thesis
This doctoral thesis, submitted to Birkbeck College, University of London in April 2021, investigates the emergence of self‑managed cooperative housing in Barcelona. Authored by Santiago Leyva del Río, it examines how the “grant of use” model separates ownership from use, aiming to decommodify housing while fostering collective living. The work is grounded in extensive nine‑month qualitative fieldwork conducted in 2019, focusing on the cooperative La Borda and related projects.
Research Context and Rationale
The study situates the grant of use model within the broader neoliberal shift that linked social reproduction to housing assets. It argues that post‑2008 financialisation intensified the reliance on home ownership and family support, creating a “asset‑based welfare” system that widens inequality. By analysing the Spanish welfare tradition, the thesis highlights how historic policies promoting home ownership have been repurposed to sustain financial markets rather than social well‑being.
Theoretical Framework
The research employs conjunctural analysis, drawing on Marxist, feminist, and geographical perspectives to link structural forces with local contingencies. It also incorporates genealogical methods to trace the historical evolution of asset‑based welfare, and countertopography to map the spatial entanglements of financial markets and everyday life. These approaches illuminate the double process of privatising social reproduction and financialising households.
The Grant of Use Model Explained
The model grants indefinite user rights over housing units while collective ownership resides with a cooperative. Residents cannot sell, rent, or borrow against their units, thereby preventing speculative profit. Public land is leased for 75 years, allowing municipalities to provide affordable, secure tenure without commodification. Initial fees cover roughly 20 % of project costs, and the model relies on public‑private partnerships, ethical banks, and cooperative finance.
Empirical Findings: Suitability and Resilience
Fieldwork reveals that the model offers strong resistance to commodification, delivering lower rents than market rates and fostering community cohesion. However, scalability is limited by scarce public land, high initial fees, and the intensive time commitment required for self‑management. Institutional support from Barcelona’s City Council and the Catalonia Solidarity Economy Network (XES) has been crucial, yet political shifts pose ongoing risks.
Social and Cultural Boundaries
Analysis identifies economic, social and cultural barriers that restrict access. The need for substantial upfront fees and the demand for participants with specific skills or social capital exclude many low‑income households. Additionally, the model’s reliance on collective decision‑making can be time‑consuming, further limiting inclusivity.
Everyday Practices and Reproductive Work
Observations at La Borda show that cooperative living facilitates shared care activities such as cooking, cleaning and childcare. While women tend to take on a larger share of these tasks, the cooperative’s democratic structures provide mechanisms for negotiation and redistribution. Nonetheless, informal practices sometimes reproduce gendered labour patterns.
Impact on Housing Policy and Future Prospects
The thesis argues that the grant of use model presents a viable alternative to conventional private rent and ownership, aligning with sustainable housing goals by reducing turnover, promoting long‑term tenure and encouraging low‑impact communal living. Expansion depends on policy reforms that increase public land availability, lower entry fees, and provide stable financial backing.
Relevance for Pan‑European Sustainable Housing
Across Europe, housing sustainability is challenged by market‑driven development and rising prices. Barcelona’s cooperative model illustrates how decommodified, community‑oriented housing can mitigate these trends, offering lessons for cities seeking to balance affordability, social cohesion and environmental stewardship. The research provides empirical evidence that collective ownership, secured through long‑term public leases, can contribute to more resilient and equitable urban habitats.