The report by the Ombudsman of Palamós, presented in 2025, reveals a growing problem: citizens who cannot register their address because they do not have a fixed domicile. This situation is often due to the refusal of landlords of rental properties or rooms to allow their tenants to register, which leads the City Council to deny the process.
“"Sometimes the refusal is justified because fraudulent acts are to be avoided when a fixed domicile is not accredited. The problem is that the landlord or the person renting the room denies them the right to register."
The Ombudsman stressed that this practice creates a vicious circle, as the lack of registration prevents access to basic services and fundamental rights. She insisted on the need to find solutions adapted to each case, as those affected are often victims of this situation, not the perpetrators of fraud.
Another critical point of the report is the underfunding of basic social services. The Ombudsman has reiterated this concern since the beginning of the mandate, noting that current resources are insufficient for the needs of a municipality of almost 19,000 inhabitants. During 2025, social services assisted 2,533 people, an increase of 22% compared to 2021.
This situation is exacerbated by the closure of the open center for minors, a socio-educational resource that served about twenty at-risk children and young people. Currently, there are more than 25 minors under 12 years old who are eligible for assistance. The Ombudsman directly linked these problems to the difficulty of accessing housing and recalled that the risk of child poverty in Catalonia for minors under 18 years old stands at 36.5%, two points higher than in 2024.
During 2025, the Ombudsman managed a total of 81 files, of which 58 were complaints, 20 consultations, and 3 ex officio actions. The most frequent complaints were related to problems with other administrations, online purchases, disagreements with sanctions, waste collection, cleaning, and noise.
