Reykjavíkurborg to take over unsold apartments

The socialists' proposal to utilize empty apartments will be presented at a city council meeting tomorrow and discussed:

Reykjavíkurborg agrees to approach those who have been involved in the development and financing of so-called luxury apartments in the city center that have not been selling (e.g., apartments at Tryggvagata 13). The goal of Reykjavíkurborg will be to take over ownership of these apartments at a favorable price and use the apartments to provide secure housing for those in the city who are in need of housing.

The parties behind the aforementioned apartments have had difficulties selling them, and given the economic situation we are now facing, it is not foreseen that the apartments will be in demand at their current price. Therefore, it is proposed that Reykjavíkurborg endeavor to take over the apartments and make them accessible to those groups in society most in need of housing.

It is also proposed that Reykjavíkurborg examine the same arrangement with the city's large hotels currently under construction and convert the spaces, e.g., into student dormitories and nursing facilities. The Department of Finance and Risk Management (Fjármála- og áhættustýringasvið) will be tasked with approaching those who have been involved in the financing and development of the aforementioned apartments and engaging in discussions with them on behalf of the city. Reykjavíkurborg then agrees to work with stakeholders such as the labor movement, Félagsbústaðir, Öryrkjabandalag Íslands, Félagsstofnun stúdenta, and organizations for senior citizens regarding the utilization of the apartments.

Here you can see the proposal with an explanatory statement:https://reykjavik.is/sites/default/files/skjol_borgarstjornarfundur/5_tillaga_j_ibudirdocx.pdf