In San Marino, the cost of housing is weighing ever more heavily on household incomes, with rents reportedly absorbing as much as 70% of the average salary. The alarm has been raised by RETE, which is addressing the housing emergency and calling for immediate political responses, while also announcing a public meeting for Thursday, November 12, in Borgo Maggiore.
“In San Marino, having a home has become a luxury, because having a job is no longer enough to guarantee a roof over your head,” the movement states in its press release, pointing to rent and mortgage costs as two of the main obstacles to accessing housing.
“We calculated that rent at ‘market’ prices eats up 60-70% of the average salary of a San Marino resident. If it takes 800-900 euros to pay for an 80-square-metre apartment, how much is left to live on given current inflation rates?” the statement reads.
According to RETE, the problem is not limited to the rental market but also affects the possibility of buying property. “Sky-high rents, yes, but not only that: if you dare to think about buying, you run into long-term mortgages with heavy instalments regardless, placing an even heavier burden on people’s lives and condemning them to decades of financial strain.”
The consequences highlighted by the movement mainly concern families’ economic struggles and citizens’ ability to continue living in San Marino. “The consequences? Families struggling to make ends meet, and San Marino residents — young and not so young — forced to seek their future abroad.”
A year after the approval of the so-called Ciacci Law, RETE believes the housing situation continues to worsen, affecting a growing share of the population. “A year after the approval of the Ciacci Law, the housing emergency is a reality that is biting into ever wider sections of the population. It should not be considered a problem affecting only a few, because it is clear we are facing a systemic crisis. Different, immediately workable political responses are needed.”
The movement therefore asserts that access to housing must be considered a right, and calls for broader involvement in finding solutions. “For us at RETE, having a home is a right, not a privilege.”
The position expressed in the statement also calls out those who, over the years, have profited from the real estate sector. “For RETE, when an emergency is declared, the whole country must come together and make common cause to overcome it — starting with those who have speculated on real estate and reaped fabulous returns over the years.”
“The climate has now changed, and it is precisely they who are needed most: solidarity must come before property when fellow citizens are on the brink of poverty. Everyone must be guaranteed the chance to live with dignity in their own country, and this must become the priority for those responsible for providing answers and finding solutions,” RETE continues.
Finally, the movement has announced a public event to discuss the housing emergency and present its own proposals, arguing that these are currently not being taken into consideration by the government.
“On these issues, we have organised a public evening, open to everyone — citizens, trade unions and trade associations — to present our analysis, data and various proposals that the government is not taking into consideration.”
The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, starting at 9 p.m., at the “Joe Cassar” Hall (formerly Cinema Internazionale) in Borgo Maggiore. The meeting will be open to the public, trade union organisations and trade associations.
