Spain: Housing decrees fail in parliament, reissued via Standing Committee – new election on 29 Nov
Positions according to the sources
- Sánchez government (PSOE), coalition partner Sumar, Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez: By decree, evictions of vulnerable households are to be suspended until 31 Dec 2030, the purchase of housing by investment funds limited until 31 Dec 2028, and rental contracts extended. Sánchez calls the election a decision on social justice; Sumar minister Bustinduy speaks of a “referendum on housing policy”.
- People's Party (PP) under Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Vox: The PP and Vox voted against both decrees. After the vote, Feijóo called for a swift new election and said Sánchez has neither the street nor parliament behind him.
- Junts per Catalunya (Catalan party, seven deputies): Junts voted against both decrees, citing a possible decline in housing supply. Even the minister's offer to rework the texts as a bill did not change the vote. The party calls the package only a temporary solution.
- Basque Nationalist Party PNV (spokesperson Maribel Vaquero): In the Standing Committee, the PNV backs the first decree (eviction stop, fund limits) and rejects the second (automatic contract extension). At the same time, it calls for more comprehensive measures and more housing construction.
Who gains, who bears the costs
If the decrees (eviction stop until 2030, fund limits until 2028) remain in force
gains
- Tenant households, especially those with low incomes: Vulnerable tenants without an alternative home are not evicted until 31 Dec 2030. According to the Spanish government, 26% of tenants spend on average 40% of their income on rent and utilities (EU average: 18% of tenants) pbs.org
bears the costs
- Landlords and investment funds: Evictions are suspended and the purchase of housing by funds is limited until 31 Dec 2028; opponents expect a shrinking supply of rental housing. Scale not documented
If the decrees fail and the housing market is steered through expanding supply
gains
- Owners, landlords and the construction industry: No new restrictions on eviction, sale and letting; according to the argument of Junts, supply thereby increases. Scale not documented
bears the costs
- Tenant households with expiring contracts and households threatened with eviction: The eviction stop and the planned contract extension for contracts expiring by the end of 2028 fall away. Scale not documented
Background: starting point and why it is stuck
Starting point
On 2 Oct, the Spanish Chamber of Deputies rejected two government housing decrees; among other things, they provided for a ban on evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030, an extension of the rent cap and stricter rules on short-term rentals. After nationwide protests, Prime Minister Sánchez called a new election for 29 Nov and had the decrees adopted again by the Council of Ministers. According to reports, the Basque PNV is backing the first decree in the Standing Committee (Diputación Permanente), while the second (automatic contract extension) is expected to lack a majority there.
Why it is stuck
In the fragmented parliament, Junts with its seven deputies was decisive: the first decree failed by 178 to 172, the second by 184 to 166 votes. In the 69-member Standing Committee, two blocs face each other with 35 and 34 votes, so the PNV holds the deciding vote. In addition, housing policy lies largely with the regions, several of which are governed by the PP.
Next checkpoint: 29 Nov 2026: early parliamentary election in Spain; beforehand, vote of the Standing Committee on the newly adopted decrees (date not stated in the sources; deadline: 30 days after publication).
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