Stage 1 of 5: Check whether you qualify
VPPB and VPPL: Madrid's two types of protected housing
6 min read · intermediate level · reviewed on 25 July 2026
What is the difference between VPPB and VPPL protected housing in Madrid?
They are the two types of publicly protected housing in the Comunidad de Madrid. VPPB (basic) has the lowest price and the strictest income limit: 5.5 times the IPREM. VPPL (limited price) allows a higher price and accepts incomes of up to 7.5 times the IPREM. Both must be used as your main residence.
Madrid's acronyms, decoded
In Madrid you will rarely see "VPO" (the general Spanish term for protected housing) on a new development: the region has its own names, and those are the ones used in calls for applications (convocatorias), in adverts and on the register.
VPPB
- Full name
- Vivienda con Protección Pública Básica (basic publicly protected housing)
- In one sentence
- The most protected band: lowest price, tightest income limit
VPPL
- Full name
- Vivienda con Protección Pública de Precio Limitado (limited-price publicly protected housing)
- In one sentence
- Higher price than VPPB, but below the open market, and a looser income limit
VPPA
- Full name
- Vivienda con Protección Pública para Arrendamiento (publicly protected housing for rent)
- In one sentence
- The type meant for renting
| Acronym | Full name | In one sentence |
|---|---|---|
| VPPB | Vivienda con Protección Pública Básica (basic publicly protected housing) | The most protected band: lowest price, tightest income limit |
| VPPL | Vivienda con Protección Pública de Precio Limitado (limited-price publicly protected housing) | Higher price than VPPB, but below the open market, and a looser income limit |
| VPPA | Vivienda con Protección Pública para Arrendamiento (publicly protected housing for rent) | The type meant for renting |
The income limit: the difference that decides
The practical difference between the two is how much you can earn. The Comunidad de Madrid sets the caps as multiples of the IPREM (the state income index used to set the caps):
VPPB
- Maximum household income
- 5.5 × IPREM
VPPL
- Maximum household income
- 7.5 × IPREM
| Type | Maximum household income |
|---|---|
| VPPB | 5.5 × IPREM |
| VPPL | 7.5 × IPREM |
In other words: if your income rules you out of VPPB, you may well still qualify for VPPL. Many people rule themselves out of Madrid's protected housing without checking the second band.
Where the Plan Vive fits in
The Plan Vive is the programme through which the Comunidad de Madrid builds protected housing for rent on public land, allocated through private operators by lots and towns: Alcalá de Henares, Alcorcón, Colmenar Viejo, Daganzo de Arriba, Torrejón, Móstoles, Getafe and others.
If you were searching for "VPPL Madrid" or the name of one of those towns and ended up here, what you are looking for is most likely a Plan Vive development. You can see them, with their status and official link, on the Madrid protected housing page.
How to apply for one
- Sign up on the applicant register (registro de demandantes) of the Comunidad de Madrid. Without registering, no home can be allocated to you, and for rentals Madrid is strict about prior registration as a resident at the town hall (empadronamiento).
- Check which band you fall into, VPPB or VPPL, with your income and your household (unidad de convivencia).
- Tick both buying and renting if either would work for you: most of Madrid's new supply is for rent.
- Prove the quotas you are entitled to: young person, large family, single-parent family, disability.
- Submit your application within the deadline of each call, which is counted in days.
Each step is explained in detail in the guide to the applicant register.
Selling a VPPB or a VPPL
Both keep a maximum sale price while their protection lasts, and publicly developed protected housing also requires authorisation and a minimum period of ownership before it can be sold. The protection period depends on the type and on the decree the development was built under, so you need to read the specific qualification certificate (calificación).
How that price is worked out and what the procedures are: see selling a protected home.
See whether I fit VPPB or VPPL
We apply the Comunidad de Madrid's IPREM multiples to your figures and tell you which band you fit.
See whether I fit VPPB or VPPLFrequently asked questions
Is a VPPB or a VPPL better?
Neither is better: it depends on your income. If you qualify for VPPB you will pay less, but the income cap is lower and there is more competition. VPPL opens the door if you earn a bit more.
Can I apply for both?
You can apply to the calls whose requirements you meet. If your income is below 5.5 times the IPREM, you also qualify for VPPL, whose cap is higher.
What happens if my income goes up later?
The requirements are checked at allocation and before signing. For rentals, they are also reviewed at renewals. Buying and then getting a better salary does not make you pay anything back.
Is the Plan Vive for buying or renting?
Renting. It is protected rental housing built on public land owned by the Comunidad de Madrid and run by the operators awarded each lot.
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Official sources
General guidance, not legal advice. The rules that apply are your region's and those on the home's own qualification.