Spain’s parliament passed emergency measures on Thursday to curb evictions and dampen housing costs, a legislative move following weeks of protests and a general strike over the national housing crisis.
The government’s success in a smaller parliamentary council allows for the implementation of two decrees that restrict the eviction of vulnerable tenants who lack alternative housing until the end of 2030. These measures also place new constraints on the acquisition of residential properties by investment firms, commonly referred to as “vulture funds,” which have faced intense criticism from activists for buying housing stock at low prices to maximize returns.
The legislative push was accelerated by the death of 87-year-old Madrid pensioner Maricarmen Abascal in September. Abascal was forced from her lifelong home after a real estate company significantly increased the rent, an event that triggered national outcry, widespread demonstrations, and protest camps in cities including Madrid, where activists occupied the Puerta del Sol square.
The minority government led by Pedro Sánchez had previously struggled to pass these protections. An initial attempt to push the decrees through the full 350-seat parliament failed after pro-business Catalan separatists from the Junts party voted against them. The stalemate forced Sánchez to call a snap general election, which is now scheduled for November 29.
The political makeup changed in the smaller parliamentary council, where the government secured the necessary support. Because Junts holds only one seat in this 69-member body, their opposition was no longer sufficient to block the initiative.
However, the new laws do not include a provision for the automatic renewal of tenant contracts, a primary demand of housing advocacy groups. While the government successfully pushed for eviction restrictions, the exclusion of contract renewals leaves a gap in the protections sought by protesters.
The conservative Popular Party, which currently leads in most opinion polls, said it will challenge the legislation. The party has vowed to repeal the measures if it wins the upcoming election, arguing that the government’s intervention will negatively impact the stability of the housing market. Instead of the current restrictions, the opposition has proposed a large-scale building program as the primary solution to address the country’s housing shortages.
The debate over the future of these measures is set to continue as the campaign for the November 29 vote intensifies.
