Spain extends rent protection after protests
The government wants to block evictions of vulnerable tenants for longer and temporarily extend existing rental contracts.
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The Spanish government has approved new housing-market measures after days of protests against high rents and forced evictions. Under the proposals, protection against eviction will be extended until 2030, while some rental contracts could be extended by up to two years.
The measures are set out in two royal decrees approved by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government on Tuesday. The PSOE–Sumar coalition wants the texts to be ratified separately by Congress. The Spanish government says swift action is needed because of pressure on tenants and the continuing housing crisis.
One of the decrees extends existing protection against the eviction of vulnerable tenants until 2030. Rental contracts due to expire before the end of 2028 will also be subject to a temporary mandatory extension of up to two years. The precise conditions depend on the parliamentary process and implementing rules.
The package also includes measures on temporary rentals and room rentals. The government also wants to restrict the purchase of homes by so-called vulture funds until 2028. The coalition links this to tax measures intended to make rent more affordable, although it is not yet clear how many households will benefit directly.
Political pressure has risen sharply in recent days. Tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid against the housing shortage. One trigger was the eviction of an 87-year-old tenant who had lived in the same home for decades. Her case became a symbol of concerns about rising rents, limited availability and the protection of older tenants.
The government presents the decrees as immediate assistance, but tenants’ organisations say, according to Spanish media, that the plans do not go far enough. They are calling, among other things, for longer-term rental contracts, lower rents and a permanent ban on evictions when no alternative home is available. Landlords, meanwhile, warn that stricter rules could reduce supply.
The proposals are therefore not yet definitive law. Congress must ratify the decrees and may force changes in the process. The courts will also have to assess how the new rules relate to property rights and existing rental contracts. The outcome of these political and legal steps will determine how much protection tenants actually receive.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The government has approved two housing-market decrees.
- Under the proposal, protection against certain evictions will be extended until 2030.
- Congress still has to ratify the decrees.
- There were large protests in Madrid against the housing crisis.
Left
Arguments The government should treat housing more firmly as a social right. Protection against eviction, rent regulation and long-term contracts are needed to prevent people on low incomes, older people and families from being forced out of the market.
Values Affordability, social security and protection for vulnerable groups.
Consequences Greater security for tenants, but potentially higher implementation costs and less willingness among landlords to put homes on the market.
Centre
Arguments The measures could serve as a temporary emergency brake, but they must be combined with more housebuilding, clear judicial review and workable rules.
Values Legal certainty, enforceability and balance between tenants and landlords.
Consequences A compromise could provide rapid relief, while the structural solution would remain dependent on construction output and public investment.
Right
Arguments Long-term protection and restrictions on landlords can undermine property rights and discourage investment. On this view, the core problem is a shortage of homes caused by too little construction and too much regulation.
Values Property, market forces and the government’s responsibility to enable supply.
Consequences Fewer rules could encourage investment, but tenants may have less protection against rent increases and eviction in the short term.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The core facts have been confirmed by the Spanish government and independent reporting. Details of the parliamentary process and practical implementation remain dependent on subsequent steps.
- confirmed The Spanish government approved two housing decrees on 29 September 2026. — Reported by Cadena SER and AP. source
- confirmed Protection against evictions will be extended until 2030. — The measure is described by Cadena SER. source
- confirmed Existing rental contracts due to expire before the end of 2028 can be extended by up to two years. — Mentioned in public reporting on the government decision. source
- confirmed Tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid against the housing crisis. — Confirmed by AP. source
- confirmed The housing case involving an 87-year-old tenant became a trigger for the protests. — AP describes the eviction as a direct trigger for the mobilisation. source
Editor's note
The approval of the decrees and the main outlines of the package have been confirmed by multiple public sources. The parliamentary outcome, legal consequences and ultimate scope of the measures remain uncertain.Sources
- El Gobierno aprueba nuevas medidas de vivienda — Cadena SER
- Spanish housing protests spread as government prepares its response — Associated Press
- Pedro Sánchez reafirma su compromiso con la vivienda pública — La Moncloa
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