Spain's coalition government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is poised to approve a sweeping housing decree — popularly known as the “Maricarmen” law — that would extend eviction protections until 2030 and introduce automatic renewal of rental contracts. The proposal, aimed at curbing a wave of evictions and limiting the role of speculative investors, has ignited a political firestorm and drawn criticism from the country's central bank.
Key provisions of the decree
The draft law, which the PSOE‑led coalition reached an internal agreement on, seeks to suspend court‑ordered evictions for the next seven years, ban the purchase of rental portfolios by “vulture funds”, and make tenancy contracts automatically renewable for an additional year unless the landlord presents a justified cause for termination. According to Sur in English, the coalition’s internal accord was secured after intense negotiations, though the final wording on contract renewal remains contentious.
Political backlash and parliamentary deadlock
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the centre‑right People's Party (PP) slammed the measure as a “band‑aid solution” that fails to address what he described as “eight years of the wrong direction in housing policy” (RTVE.es). The PP warned that extending protections would discourage investment and exacerbate the shortage of rental housing. Meanwhile, left‑wing parties, including Unidas Podemos, have pressed the PSOE to adopt even tougher safeguards, urging a “harder” decree (RUSSPAIN.com). The debate reached a critical point in the last hours before the scheduled vote, when the technical formula for automatically extending leases stalled negotiations, according to El País.
Adding to the friction, the lawyer representing the decree’s eponymous sponsor, Maricarmen, accused minister Almeida of “taking the medal of the agreement to go home” and called the administrations “incompetent” (Cadena SER). The criticism underscores the intra‑government tension over how the policy is framed and implemented.
"The Bank of Spain warns of 'undesired effects' that could arise from the Maricarmen decree, including potential distortions in the rental market and risks to financial stability," El País reported, citing the central bank’s latest advisory.
The central bank’s caution reflects concerns that a blanket eviction ban might discourage landlords from maintaining properties or offering new rentals, thereby tightening an already scarce market. The Banco de España’s warning was highlighted in multiple outlets, including El País, which emphasized the need for careful calibration of the law’s incentives.
Human‑rights groups point to stark examples of the crisis the decree seeks to alleviate. The Straits Times recounted the case of a vulnerable woman who was evicted and forced to sleep in her car, illustrating the “depth of Spain's housing crisis”. Such stories have amplified public pressure on the government to act swiftly.
As the parliament prepares for a decisive vote on Tuesday, the decree remains under scrutiny. Critics argue that without clear safeguards, the automatic renewal clause could lead to legal disputes, while supporters contend that the measure is essential to protect tenants from sudden displacement. The outcome will test the Sánchez administration’s capacity to balance market dynamics with social protection in a country where housing affordability has become a pivotal electoral issue.
