The flats have 40 square metres of floor space, with a bedroom, a living area including a dining area and kitchen, and an adapted bathroom. The buildings also include different spaces such as multi-purpose rooms and solariums, plus concierge services and cleaning for communal spaces and homes.

The flats are in new developments in Porta Trinitat (in the Trinitat Vella neighbourhood, with 85 homes), Casernes de Sant Andreu (152 homes) and Veneçuela (in Provençals del Poblenou, with 60 homes).

New aspects to the allocation process mean older people now score more points. Priority is also given to applicants who lose their usual home or who are evicted.

The new housing blocks come in addition to the 1,433 existing rental homes for elderly people, distributed around 24 blocks in all districts and different city neighbourhoods. The figure for flats with services for the elderly in Barcelona is set to climb to 1,778 in the coming months.