Spanish Parliament approves measures for more tenant protection

Housing crisis in Spain Parliament approves measures for more tenant protection As of: November 12, 2026 • 5:21 p.m

Spain's transitional parliament has approved measures by the left-wing minority government for more tenant protection with a majority of one vote. The conservative PP party wants to overturn the decree. There will be elections in Spain in two weeks.

A majority of one vote was enough: Spain's transitional parliament approved a government decree to combat the housing shortage. This enshrines protection against evictions, stronger regulation of rental agreements and a ban on the purchase of apartments by “vulture funds” that are well below market value by 2030.

There should also be tax breaks for tenants and landlords as well as stricter rules for temporary rental agreements. However, a second decree, which, among other things, provided for an automatic extension of rental contracts that were about to expire, did not find a majority.

The regular parliament rejected the two decrees against the housing crisis of the left-wing minority government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in October with the votes of the conservative opposition. Sánchez then called a new election for November 29th and parliament was dissolved.

The dispute over housing market policy leads to new elections in Spain. more

According to the constitution, the so-called Standing Committee then took over parliamentary work. It consists of 68 representatives and a chairwoman, who are selected proportionally to the strength of the parliamentary groups. Due to rounding in the allocation of seats to smaller factions, the governing parties and their partners currently have a majority of one vote.

The opposition sharply criticized the government's actions. Sergio Sayas from the conservative People's Party PP denounced a "fraud" by the government.

The PP, the largest opposition party, has already announced that it would revoke the rent decree if it wins the election. While the Sánchez government relies on state investments, public housing, rent caps and protective measures, opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo (PP) is pursuing a supply-side approach with tax cuts, reductions in bureaucracy and stronger property protection.

Most polls currently predict that the PP, together with the right-wing populist Vox, will have an absolute majority of parliamentary seats. The housing market crisis will be one of the biggest challenges for the next government, regardless of which parties win the election and form the next government.

The Spanish central bank currently estimates the shortage at around 750,000 housing units. Rents and property prices have been rising significantly faster than real wages for years. Since there is a high level of immigration to Spain, but at the same time too few new apartments are being built, prices are rising rapidly.

The tense situation on the housing market has long been the dominant political issue in Spain. more

Just the day before there were demonstrations for affordable housing during a general strike in several major Spanish cities. While the unions spoke of a successful strike that exceeded expectations, the employers' association described the strike as a failure.

The protests against rising rents and housing shortages were triggered by the forced eviction from the apartment of 87-year-old pensioner Maricarmen Abascal in Madrid in September.

This topic in the program: MDR AKTUELL – The news radio | 11/12/2026 | 3:41 p.m