In the heart of the bustling city of Madrid, where houses come to life and turn into homes, there is a set of regulations that define the essential conditions for a dwelling to be considered habitable.
The minimum habitability conditions for housing in Madrid are essential to ensuring the quality of life of its residents and guaranteeing that every corner of this vibrant metropolis is a safe and comfortable place to live.
In this article, we will explore these conditions in detail, covering crucial aspects ranging from façade layout to ventilation and lighting requirements.
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1. The homes must be exterior-facing.
In Madrid, homes must meet certain criteria to be considered habitable, and one of the requirements is that they must be exterior-facing.
This means that each home must have at least one opening on a façade that faces a public street or an open public space.
Homes may also have façades facing private spaces or courtyards, as long as they comply with the conditions and dimensions established by the Madrid General Urban Development Plan (PGOUM).
Requirements for a home to be considered exterior:
- Opening in a facade: Each dwelling must have at least one opening in a facade that faces the public road or a public open space. This opening can be a window or a door.
- Facades facing private spaces or courtyards: If a dwelling does not have a direct facade facing the public road, it is allowed to have facades facing private spaces or courtyards. However, these facades must comply with the conditions and dimensions specified in the PGOUM to be considered habitable.
2. Minimum Facade of 3 cm
This specification is designed to ensure that dwellings have sufficient facade space to provide access to natural light and adequate ventilation.
Requirements related to facade length:
- Length of 3 meters or more: Each dwelling must have a facade that is at least 3 meters long. This means that a part of the dwelling must have direct access to the exterior facade that meets this requirement.
- Habitable room: A habitable room must face this minimum 3-meter-long facade. This can be a living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, or other areas intended for living, resting, or leisure.
3. Facade to Habitable Room
In the capital, it is not enough for a dwelling to have a minimum facade length of 3 meters; this facade must also provide access to a habitable room that meets certain specific conditions.
Requirements for the habitable room facing the minimum 3-meter-long facade:
- Usable area greater than 12 m²: The habitable room facing the minimum 3-meter-long facade must have a usable area greater than 12 square meters, excluding bay windows or other elements. This requirement ensures that living spaces are sufficiently spacious to be functional and comfortable.
- Inscription of a 270 cm diameter circle: In this habitable room, a circle with a diameter of 270 cm must be inscribable. This circle must be tangent to the wall where the light and ventilation opening is located, which is typically a window or a door.
4. Minimum Dwelling
The minimum habitability conditions for dwellings in Madrid also include specifications related to the minimum surface area a dwelling must have to be considered habitable.
Requirements for the minimum surface area of a dwelling in Madrid:
- Usable area of 38 m² (according to the 1997 PGOUM): According to the General Urban Planning Plan of Madrid (PGOUM) of 1997, a dwelling must have a minimum usable area of 38 square meters. This measurement defines the minimum space required for a dwelling in Madrid.
- Possible reduction to 25 m²: It is important to note that, under this regulation, the minimum usable area can be reduced to as little as 25 square meters in certain cases.
Although a modification to the PGOUM was initially approved in June 2022, the minimum dwelling surface area from the 1997 PGOUM is still in effect.
This proposed modification redefines the minimum dwelling as one that includes a living-dining room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, with a usable area of at least 40 square meters, excluding terraces, balconies, bay windows, drying areas, and spaces with a free floor-to-ceiling height of less than 220 centimeters.
Additionally, this modification will allow open-plan dwellings without internal partitions, except for the bathroom.
5. Minimum Conditions per Room
Homes must also meet specific minimum conditions for various rooms, such as the kitchen, dining room, bedrooms, bathroom, and other areas intended for daily living. These conditions are designed to ensure that each space is functional and comfortable for its occupants.
Requirements for Different Rooms in Homes in Madrid:
Kitchen
- Minimum area: 7 m².
- Circle inscription diameter: 1.60 m, tangent to the wall where the light and ventilation opening is located.
Living-Dining Room
- Minimum area: 14 m².
- Inscription of a circle with a diameter: 3.00 m, tangent to the wall where the light and ventilation opening is located.
Master Bedroom
- Minimum area: 12 m².
- Inscription of a circle with a diameter: 2.70 m, tangent to the wall where the light and ventilation opening is located.
Other Bedrooms
- Minimum area: 7 m².
- Inscription of a circle with a diameter: 2.00 m, tangent to the wall where the light and ventilation opening is located.
Bathroom
- It must include a shower/bathtub, a washbasin, and a toilet.
- Minimum area: 3.00 m².
- Access to the bathroom cannot be from the kitchen or a bedroom.
- When there is more than one bathroom in the home, one of them must have independent access, while the rest may be accessed from the bedrooms.
Hallway
- Clear width: 90 cm.
Minimum Clear Height
- Habitable rooms (except kitchen): 2.50 m
- Kitchen and non-habitable rooms: 2.20 m
Door Openings
- Entrance door: 0.80 m wide by 2.00 m high
- Interior door: 0.725 m wide by 2.03 m high
Laundry Area
- Minimum area: 3 m².
- It must have direct natural ventilation and include a protection system that limits the visibility of hanging clothes from the street or public space.
6. Ventilation and Lighting Conditions
To ensure a healthy and comfortable environment, specific conditions related to ventilation and lighting are established for homes.
- Exterior Habitable Rooms: All habitable rooms in homes in Madrid must be considered exterior, which guarantees adequate access to natural ventilation.
- Minimum Area for Lighting Openings: Lighting openings, such as windows, must occupy at least twelve percent (12%) of the usable area of the habitable room. This ensures sufficient natural light enters the home.
- Ventilation Regulations According to the Technical Building Code: The ventilation of both habitable and non-habitable rooms in homes must be carried out according to the provisions of the basic health document of the Technical Building Code or the regulation that replaces it.
7. Hygienic Conditions
These conditions aim to ensure hygiene and safety in homes throughout the city.
Hygienic and Location Requirements for Homes in Madrid:
- Exterior Habitable Rooms: All habitable rooms in homes in Madrid must be considered exterior. This ensures that all spaces intended for daily living have access to natural ventilation and daylight.
- Floor Location: No newly built home in Madrid may have its floor located below the ground level in contact with it. This prevents issues related to humidity and poor sanitary conditions.
- Rooms on Floors Below Ground Level: The regulations allow, in single-family homes, any room to be located on the floor immediately below the ground floor, as long as the established conditions for natural ventilation and lighting are met.
Conclusion
The minimum habitability conditions for housing in Madrid are a fundamental part of the urban fabric of the Spanish capital.
These regulations, framed within the General Urban Development Plan of Madrid (PGOUM) and other legal provisions, define the essential standards that homes in the city must meet to ensure the quality of life of its residents.
It is important for citizens, architects, and construction professionals to be aware of these regulations, as they play a key role in creating homes that promote health, well-being, and livability in a city that breathes both history and modernity.
