A new report by ECAS, Catalan Social Action Entities, indicates that access to the municipal register remains an "administrative bottleneck" for thousands of people in Catalonia, highlighting an "extensive and structural" violation of registration policies by local councils.
Survey data from 60 municipalities shows that 40 of them do not efficiently register all applicants. Regulatory breaches include refusing registration to individuals who are not property owners or tenants, demanding excessive documentation, or causing disproportionate administrative delays.
The study emphasizes that none of the analyzed municipalities facilitate registration for homeless individuals, those in substandard housing, or subtenants, with 29 municipalities not offering this possibility at all.
The report identifies four main barriers to registration: documentation requirements exceeding regulatory norms, access difficulties for those with a digital divide due to digitalization and mandatory appointments, local police home inspections that instill fear in irregular residents, and delayed resolution of applications, failing to meet legal deadlines.
Subtenants face particular difficulties in registering, as it can lead to conflict with the person subletting the room without the property owner's authorization. Many individuals abandon the process fearing eviction, despite needing to be registered for residency and work permits.
The study notes that 42% of entities have detected registration-related fraud, often when property owners discover unknown individuals registered at their address.
The report acknowledges good practices in about twenty municipalities, featuring agile, accessible, and flexible procedures, along with support services for newcomers. Conversely, municipalities with significant issues tend to have over 20,000 inhabitants and many are part of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area.
ECAS recommends adopting standardized protocols to reduce administrative discretion, systematically including all registration options, avoiding unnecessary police inspections, adhering to legal deadlines, and enhancing municipal transparency.
