The City Council of Marbella boasts more than 2,000 public protection homes (VPP), but only 91 keys have reached the residents. The gap between political discourse and real estate reality is widening.
The City Council of Marbella has a considerable discrepancy between the announced public protection homes (VPP) and those actually delivered. As of June 2026, only 91 keys have been made available to applicants, compared to the more than 2,000 that the mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, has been adding in her public appearances since September 2025.
The majority of these deliveries correspond to the 18 rental homes in Huerta de Los Cristales, whose keys were handed over in March 2026, and the 73 in Nueva Andalucía, which are in the final stages of processing. The remaining 84 homes drawn in San Pedro Alcántara in January 2026 have yet to be delivered.
From the target of 1,000 to the universe of 2,000
On September 22, 2025, Muñoz announced the target of 1,000 VPP before the end of the legislature in May 2027. At that time, the commitment seemed concrete: to build homes for purchase or rent. However, by June 2026, the discourse had shifted: it was no longer about homes built or delivered, but about reaching that figure "among designed, planned and ongoing projects."
This change in nuance allowed the City Council to keep adding promotions without residents seeing tangible results. The initial 600 units (84 from San Pedro, 73 from Nueva Andalucía, 18 from Huerta de Los Cristales, 25 from Arroyo Palomera, 170 and 230 from two other promotions) were supplemented by 800 VPP in Arroyo Sequillo, approved in February 2026, and then another 132 in San Pedro Alcántara, reaching a total of 1,532. On May 26, 2026, Muñoz added 495 more (100 in Arias de Velasco and the El Re development), surpassing the announced 2,000 units.
Demand and reality: only 2.34% of young people obtain housing
The municipal registry of VPP applicants stands at 3,207 people, of which 1,796 are under 35 years old. Of these, only 42 homes (those in San Pedro Alcántara for young people) are available, which represents a 2.34% coverage. For the general regime, 1,411 applicants are vying for 38 homes, a 2.69% coverage.
Prices have also varied from the initial announcements. The homes in San Pedro, initially priced at 170,000 euros for young people and 220,000 for the general regime, now range between 149,167 and 262,254 euros, with direct aid of 10,000 euros from the City Council and 5,000 from the developer. The rents for the 18 homes in Huerta de Los Cristales range between 130 and 300 euros per month.
For the residents of Marbella, the situation is frustrating: while the City Council announces record figures, most promotions are in the project phase or beginning construction. The only keys delivered are a drop in the ocean of demand.
An uncertain future for the 2,000 promised homes
The urban development of Arroyo Sequillo, which would provide 800 VPP, and the 495 new units announced in May 2026, depend on urban timelines and land availability. The mayor claims that processing is progressing, but residents are still waiting in the meantime.
The next milestone will be the delivery of the 73 homes in Nueva Andalucía, whose beneficiaries are completing the paperwork. After that, the 84 in San Pedro Alcántara, which were drawn in January but still have no delivery date. The City Council has not specified a timeline for the rest of the promotions.
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