Spain’s cabinet approved an emergency housing decree on Thursday that bans evictions of vulnerable occupants, limits rent increases and grants nearly €1.85 billion in tax cuts for landlords. The legislation comes after mass protests across the country, triggered by the forced removal of 87‑year‑old Maricarmen González from her Madrid flat, and a growing call for a nationwide general strike.
Key provisions of the decree
The decree, unveiled by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Housing Minister Luis Planas, introduces several measures aimed at curbing Spain’s housing crisis. Tenants classified as “vulnerable” – including the elderly, families with minors, people with disabilities and low‑income households – will be protected from eviction unless alternative accommodation is offered, according to the BBC and Al Jazeera. Landlords who wish to terminate a tenancy must now compensate the tenant, a stipulation highlighted by Crónica Balear.
Rent control is also a central element: annual increases will be capped at the Consumer Price Index plus 2%, a figure cited by El Economista. New contracts for private rentals will be required to include a minimum three‑year term, and landlords will be obliged to register the rental price with the government’s housing portal.
On the fiscal side, the decree delivers €1.85 billion in tax reductions for landlords who keep rents below the new ceiling, as detailed by El Salto. The tax relief is intended to incentivise compliance and ease the financial burden on renters.
Protests and political backlash
Street demonstrations have been ongoing in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and several smaller cities since the eviction of Maricarmen, who was later allowed to return to her home, according to NPR and Reuters. Protesters have set up encampments outside regional government buildings, demanding that the decree be passed swiftly and that additional safeguards be introduced.
Labor unions and tenant groups have called for a general strike, arguing that the decree does not go far enough. Ctxt.es outlines the unions’ rationale, citing the need for more extensive rent control, higher compensation amounts and a permanent ban on evictions for all low‑income renters.
“The eviction of 87‑year‑old Maricarmen sparked nationwide protests, leading to the government’s emergency housing decree,” reported Reuters.
Parliamentary hurdles and future outlook
While the decree has been signed by the Council of Ministers, it still requires parliamentary approval. Olive Press News Spain notes that the vote is “far from certain,” with opposition parties warning that the measures could deter investment in the rental market. The government, however, stresses that the legislation is a temporary emergency response, not a permanent overhaul of housing policy.
International observers are watching Spain’s experiment closely. The decree has been described by Al Jazeera as a potential model for other EU nations grappling with housing affordability, though critics argue that without robust enforcement mechanisms, the rules may remain largely symbolic.
As the debate moves to the Spanish Congress, tenants remain on the streets and unions prepare for a possible strike. The outcome will test whether the Sánchez administration can balance the urgent demand for housing security with the interests of property owners in a market already strained by soaring rents.
