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Cuba's black market housing boom Cuba's black market housing boom
(3 days later)
By Linda Pressly BBC Radio 4's Crossing ContinentsBy Linda Pressly BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents
Maria Julia is desperate. She lives in a Havana flat that belongs to her husband's grandparents.Maria Julia is desperate. She lives in a Havana flat that belongs to her husband's grandparents.
Cuba's housing stock: Inadequate and in poor repairCuba's housing stock: Inadequate and in poor repair
For the last seven years she and her husband have shared a bedroom with their two children.For the last seven years she and her husband have shared a bedroom with their two children.
Maria Julia - not her real name - fears her relationship with her husband will not withstand the pressures of their living arrangements for much longer.Maria Julia - not her real name - fears her relationship with her husband will not withstand the pressures of their living arrangements for much longer.
She says she has only one chance of securing a separate flat in Havana for her family and saving her relationship - and it is drastic.She says she has only one chance of securing a separate flat in Havana for her family and saving her relationship - and it is drastic.
"The only option I have is to divorce my husband, and to marry a man who has legal title to a flat. I will pay him. Then in two years, he will sign over the property to me, we will get divorced and I will marry my husband again.""The only option I have is to divorce my husband, and to marry a man who has legal title to a flat. I will pay him. Then in two years, he will sign over the property to me, we will get divorced and I will marry my husband again."
This complicated transaction will cost Maria Julia $10,000 (£6,800). It is a fortune in Cuba, but the minimum going rate. Her sister has sent her the money from the US, and Maria Julia has it hidden - in cash - somewhere in Havana.This complicated transaction will cost Maria Julia $10,000 (£6,800). It is a fortune in Cuba, but the minimum going rate. Her sister has sent her the money from the US, and Maria Julia has it hidden - in cash - somewhere in Havana.
Maria Julia's plan to buy a flat is illegal, which is why we cannot identify her. In Cuba, only the state has the right to sell property. Private buyers - or sellers - may end up having their home confiscated altogether by the state if they are caught.Maria Julia's plan to buy a flat is illegal, which is why we cannot identify her. In Cuba, only the state has the right to sell property. Private buyers - or sellers - may end up having their home confiscated altogether by the state if they are caught.
Swap shopSwap shop
There was already a shortfall of more than half a million homes before three hurricanes wrought widespread destruction in 2008.There was already a shortfall of more than half a million homes before three hurricanes wrought widespread destruction in 2008.
Everybody's losing. And for me, as an economist, it's frustrating. Today if you want to buy your home, you have to use the black market Juan TrianaEverybody's losing. And for me, as an economist, it's frustrating. Today if you want to buy your home, you have to use the black market Juan Triana
Overall, the housing stock is in a dilapidated state.Overall, the housing stock is in a dilapidated state.
The precariousness of the Cuban economy, which the government says is partly due to the impact of the US trade embargo, means the new building programme is not keeping up with demand. So the black market is thriving.The precariousness of the Cuban economy, which the government says is partly due to the impact of the US trade embargo, means the new building programme is not keeping up with demand. So the black market is thriving.
"It's the biggest, really the biggest in Cuba," says Juan Triana, an economist at the Centre for the Study of the Cuban Economy."It's the biggest, really the biggest in Cuba," says Juan Triana, an economist at the Centre for the Study of the Cuban Economy.
Mr Triana is unwilling to guess at what the housing black market is worth in cash terms, but he is troubled.Mr Triana is unwilling to guess at what the housing black market is worth in cash terms, but he is troubled.
"Everybody's losing. And for me, as an economist, it's frustrating. Today if you want to buy your home, you have to use the black market." Looking for a property swap at the Paseo del Prado"Everybody's losing. And for me, as an economist, it's frustrating. Today if you want to buy your home, you have to use the black market." Looking for a property swap at the Paseo del Prado
Although Cubans are not allowed to buy and sell properties privately, they are permitted to swap. And on a Saturday morning, hundreds of people gather on the Paseo del Prado in central Havana in the hope of finding someone they can exchange homes with.Although Cubans are not allowed to buy and sell properties privately, they are permitted to swap. And on a Saturday morning, hundreds of people gather on the Paseo del Prado in central Havana in the hope of finding someone they can exchange homes with.
Officially no money should change hands. Yet in practice, swapping a smaller property for something larger will mean parting with several thousand dollars.Officially no money should change hands. Yet in practice, swapping a smaller property for something larger will mean parting with several thousand dollars.
But Maria Julia has no property to swap - her husband's grandparents hold the legal title to the flat she lives in. So a bogus marriage is the only way she can see of changing her circumstances.But Maria Julia has no property to swap - her husband's grandparents hold the legal title to the flat she lives in. So a bogus marriage is the only way she can see of changing her circumstances.
Maria Julia has used an illicit middleman, known as a corredor - literally, a runner - to find her new home. She is busy working and has no time to do it herself. If the deal goes through, she will pay him $500.Maria Julia has used an illicit middleman, known as a corredor - literally, a runner - to find her new home. She is busy working and has no time to do it herself. If the deal goes through, she will pay him $500.
Property chainProperty chain
The transaction will take time, because the man she will buy from in Havana is still securing his own new property.The transaction will take time, because the man she will buy from in Havana is still securing his own new property.
"He has a girlfriend in Santiago de Cuba," she says. "They have seen somewhere in Santiago they want to buy. And his girlfriend is going to have to marry a very old man in his 80s to get that property."He has a girlfriend in Santiago de Cuba," she says. "They have seen somewhere in Santiago they want to buy. And his girlfriend is going to have to marry a very old man in his 80s to get that property.
"They will have to pay the old man too, with the money that I am going to give them. It is a really long chain.""They will have to pay the old man too, with the money that I am going to give them. It is a really long chain."
Cuba is marking the 50th anniversary of its revolution. One of the most popular moves of Fidel Castro in his early years of government was housing reform.Cuba is marking the 50th anniversary of its revolution. One of the most popular moves of Fidel Castro in his early years of government was housing reform.
Many tenants got legal title to their homes and rents were capped. I have a worry ... that I'll solve the housing problem for me and my children, but my relationship with my husband won't survive Maria JuliaMany tenants got legal title to their homes and rents were capped. I have a worry ... that I'll solve the housing problem for me and my children, but my relationship with my husband won't survive Maria Julia
Multiple property ownership was prohibited: Cubans can still only legally own one home in the town where they live and another in the countryside.Multiple property ownership was prohibited: Cubans can still only legally own one home in the town where they live and another in the countryside.
But 50 years on from those heady, optimistic beginnings, housing is close to the top of the list of complaints among Cubans.But 50 years on from those heady, optimistic beginnings, housing is close to the top of the list of complaints among Cubans.
Juan Marcos Mendez, the vice president of the government's National Housing Institute, does not deny there are huge challenges. But he maintains that the answer does not lie in privatising housing.Juan Marcos Mendez, the vice president of the government's National Housing Institute, does not deny there are huge challenges. But he maintains that the answer does not lie in privatising housing.
"Housing is social property. We don't believe it's right for people to make a profit from it. Of course, some people still haven't understood the reasons why we have these rules and they try to get ahead illegally."Housing is social property. We don't believe it's right for people to make a profit from it. Of course, some people still haven't understood the reasons why we have these rules and they try to get ahead illegally.
"But it's only possible to improve the situation by continuing our building programme - although the United States blockade has a serious impact on that. We may have problems in Cuba but we don't have people sleeping under bridges.""But it's only possible to improve the situation by continuing our building programme - although the United States blockade has a serious impact on that. We may have problems in Cuba but we don't have people sleeping under bridges."
And that is true. But the impact of the housing shortage is distorting family life for many people.And that is true. But the impact of the housing shortage is distorting family life for many people.
Now Maria Julia is worried that the deal she has set in motion will further sour her relationship with her husband.Now Maria Julia is worried that the deal she has set in motion will further sour her relationship with her husband.
"It's one thing to accept the fact you have to make a bogus marriage as an idea, but quite another to actually do it."It's one thing to accept the fact you have to make a bogus marriage as an idea, but quite another to actually do it.
"I have a worry - maybe it's a premonition - that I'll solve the housing problem for me and my children, but my relationship with my husband won't survive.""I have a worry - maybe it's a premonition - that I'll solve the housing problem for me and my children, but my relationship with my husband won't survive."
You can hear Linda Pressly's programme about the Cuban housing crisis on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents on Monday, 29 December, 2008 at 2030 GMT. It will be repeated on 1 January, 2009 at 1230 GMT. You can hear Linda Pressly's programme about the Cuban housing crisis on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents on Monday, 29 December, 2008 at 2030 GMT. It was repeated on 1 January, 2009 at 1230 GMT.