dhabitatge

Habitatge is the Catalan term for a dwelling or housing. In everyday use it refers to the built environment used for living, including houses, apartments and other residential units, as well as the systems and regulations that govern access to and quality of living spaces.

The word derives from Latin habitare (to dwell) and reached Catalan through historical contact with other Romance languages. In Catalan texts, habitatge appears in both general discussion of living spaces and in formal contexts such as policy, planning and statistics.

The concept covers both physical housing and the social, economic and regulatory dimensions surrounding it. This includes construction and maintenance of housing stock, tenancy arrangements, ownership models, energy efficiency, accessibility, and habitability standards. It also encompasses issues of affordability, distribution, and the balance between public and private housing provision.

Housing policy, or política d'habitatge, is the set of measures governments use to ensure adequate access to housing for the population. Typical tools include the development of social or affordable housing, subsidies or tax incentives, rental regulation or stabilization schemes, support for home renovation and energy savings, and urban planning that fosters inclusive neighborhoods.

In planning and statistics, habitatge is analyzed by factors such as tenure, type and size of dwellings, location, age and condition of buildings, and demand driven by demographics and income. The concept is central to urban development, social welfare, and sustainable living in Catalan-speaking regions. See also habitatge social and política d'habitatge for related topics.