Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s government has moved to keep its “social shield” measures alive after last week’s parliamentary defeat. However, the eviction moratorium has been adjusted in an effort to secure enough support in Congress.
The package has been split into two royal decree-laws. One focused on pension revaluation
What has changed for landlords and tenants
The biggest political flashpoint is housing.
Under the revised approach, the government has agreed to changes linked to small landlords. This followed pressure from the PNV and wider debate over who should carry the burden when vulnerable tenants cannot be evicted.
Reporting on the updated text indicates that the eviction suspension will not apply in the same way to some landlords who own one or two rental properties, shifting responsibility for emergency rehousing towards social services instead of the property owner.
The government’s challenge is arithmetic: pension uprating is expected to be easier to pass, while the broader social shield — including eviction protections — faces a tougher vote, with parties such as Junts signalling resistance.
Why this matters right now
Spain’s eviction moratorium has been repeatedly extended during years of overlapping crises. This includes pandemic aftershocks to inflation pressure and rising housing costs. Each renewal becomes a political test, with landlords’ groups warning about legal uncertainty and tenant advocates arguing that vulnerable households cannot be left exposed in winter.
The next decisive moment will be Congress: both decree-laws must be validated within the legal deadline.
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