Apply for Redevelopment Projects in Public Social Housing Neighbourhoods (Italy)

The Lombardy Region is providing €48 million to recover and redevelop unused public and private properties into permanent social rental housing offered below market rates. Eligible applicants may receive a non-repayable grant of up to €2,000,000 per proposal, with online applications open from 12:00 on 1 September 2026 until 12:00 on 30 October 2026. The call supports construction, restoration and redevelopment work involving unused public or private properties in Lombardy. Supported properties must be converted into permanent social housing and rented at controlled rates below prevailing market prices. The housing is intended for individuals and families who face difficulties accessing the private rental market but do not meet the eligibility requirements for public housing services. The initiative falls under Action 4.7.1, “Promoting access to sustainable and affordable housing,” within the Lombardy PR ERDF 2021–2027 programme. The programme focuses on affordable social housing, the recovery of unused buildings, sustainable property redevelopment and improved access to below-market rental accommodation. Its purpose is to bring vacant real estate back into productive community use while increasing the availability of permanent housing for people experiencing difficulties in the private rental market. The call provides non-repayable grants for eligible construction and redevelopment projects.

Key financial conditions include:

The conventional funding rate depends on how long the property remains committed to social housing: The final contribution is connected to the property’s usable residential surface area, the duration of its social-housing designation and any applicable management-quality enhancement. The funding is classified under European Union State Aid rules as compensation for public-service obligations within the framework of Services of General Economic Interest. Beneficiaries must ensure that the grant does not result in overcompensation. They must also prevent the same costs from being financed twice through this grant and other public incentives. These obligations apply throughout the period in which the property is used to provide social housing services.

Applications may be submitted by:

Applicants must be either the exclusive owners of the properties concerned or holders of another qualifying property right that permits possession and use. This ownership or property right must remain valid throughout the construction period and the subsequent management of the social housing. The proposed project must involve an unused public or private property suitable for redevelopment as permanent social rental housing. Applicants must have the necessary legal rights over the property for the entire duration of: Funding may support construction and property-development activities such as: All supported work must contribute to creating housing offered under permanent rental arrangements at rates below market prices. The completed housing must serve individuals and households that: The programme therefore addresses the gap between conventional private housing and public residential housing. Applications will be assessed through a competitive ranking procedure.

The process includes:

Funding will be awarded according to the ranking and available financial resources. The programme addresses two connected challenges: unused real estate and limited access to affordable rental housing. By converting vacant buildings into permanent social housing, the initiative can increase the supply of below-market accommodation without relying exclusively on new construction. The programme is particularly relevant to public bodies and private legal entities that control unused properties and can manage them as long-term social housing. Applications must be submitted exclusively through the Lombardy Region’s online “Bandi e Servizi” platform.

Applicants should follow these steps:

An application is considered valid only after it has been formally transmitted and assigned an identification number by the platform. Application forms, the complete call and supporting documents are available through: Questions concerning the call, obligations and eligible activities may be sent to [contact details removed]. Technical assistance for the online application platform is available by calling 800 131 151. The support line operates Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays: Applications must be submitted online by 12:00 on 30 October 2026. The total programme budget is €48,000,000. Each eligible proposal may receive up to €2,000,000. Yes. Projects with a total investment of €200,000 or less are not eligible. Eligible applicants include public-sector entities other than Lombardy Residential Housing Companies and private legal entities with an operational office in Lombardy. The programme covers unused public or private properties that can be restored, rehabilitated or renovated and converted into permanent social rental housing. The funding calculation provides rates for commitments of 20–21 years, more than 21 years and up to 23 years, or more than 23 years. The Lombardy Region’s €48 million Affordable Housing call supports the transformation of unused public and private properties into permanent social rental accommodation. Eligible applicants may request up to €2,000,000 for projects exceeding €200,000. Proposals must demonstrate legal control of the property, a viable redevelopment plan, below-market rental arrangements and compliance with public-service, overcompensation and double-funding rules.