Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s government intends to approve an emergency housing decree on Tuesday, but negotiations remain unresolved over measures that could significantly affect renters, landlords, tourist accommodation, and evictions.
Spain is heading into a decisive day for housing policy, with the government still negotiating late on Monday over an emergency decree it intends to take to the Council of Ministers on Tuesday. The package has been under discussion for months, but negotiations have accelerated dramatically following the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from the Madrid home where she had lived for more than 70 years.
Her case has triggered widespread protests, including an ongoing camp in Puerta del Sol, and put Spain’s housing crisis firmly back at the centre of national politics.
Government pushes for Tuesday approval
The Ministry of Housing has reiterated that it intends to take the Royal Decree-Law to Tuesday’s Council of Ministers despite negotiations with the government’s parliamentary partners remaining open. Pedro Sánchez said on Sunday that ministers were working “against the clock” and appealed to political parties to make a final effort to reach an agreement capable of surviving a subsequent vote in Congress.
That second stage is crucial. The government can approve a Royal Decree-Law through the Council of Ministers, but Congress must subsequently validate it for the measures to remain in force, meaning Sánchez needs a package capable of securing sufficient parliamentary support rather than merely agreement within the cabinet.
What could change for renters in Spain?
The proposals being negotiated cover ten areas and could introduce substantial changes to Spain’s rental market. Among them are stronger protections against eviction for vulnerable households, greater stability for tenants when rental contracts expire and measures targeting the use of temporary and room-rental contracts to circumvent ordinary tenancy protections.
One of the biggest sticking points is the proposed extension of existing rental contracts. Sumar is pressing for tenants whose agreements expire to be allowed to remain under existing conditions for a further period, while negotiations with the PSOE over how far that protection should extend were continuing on Monday.
Seasonal rentals are another target. Their use has expanded rapidly in areas where housing demand is high, prompting accusations that some properties which would previously have been offered as conventional homes are instead being marketed under less regulated temporary contracts.
Tourist apartments also under scrutiny
Tourist accommodation forms another important part of the negotiations, with measures being considered to favour residential use of properties and tackle fraudulent tourist rentals. Sánchez has argued that housing policy should prioritise people’s access to a home over the use of residential property for tourism.
That makes the outcome relevant beyond vulnerable tenants or those facing eviction. Depending on the final wording, the decree could have consequences for landlords, temporary rentals and some owners of tourist accommodation, making Tuesday’s decision significant for international residents who rent or own property in Spain.
Coalition partners warn agreement remains far away
Despite the government’s intention to move ahead, there was still no final agreement on Monday evening. Sumar said earlier in the day that the two sides remained “very far” apart, while other parties on the left have warned that they will not support a package they regard as insufficient.
Their demands include stronger protection against eviction, extensions to rental contracts, regulation of seasonal and room rentals and action against fraudulent tourist accommodation. The government, meanwhile, is trying to produce a decree ambitious enough to respond to growing public pressure while also securing the votes it will eventually need in Congress.
Maricarmen eviction becomes catalyst for wider protest
The political urgency follows several days of demonstrations triggered by Maricarmen’s eviction. Around 600 people woke on Monday after spending a second night camped in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, where approximately 350 tents have been erected, and protesters have organised shifts to maintain a continuous presence.
Their demands extend well beyond Maricarmen’s individual case. Protesters are calling for greater protection against evictions without alternative accommodation, longer-term rental security and action against alleged abuses involving temporary contracts, deposits and tourist accommodation. Maricarmen, who remains in hospital, has sent a message supporting the mobilisation.
Tuesday could determine what happens to the protest
The camp is unlikely to disappear automatically if the government announces a deal. Organisers have said they intend to examine the detail of any decree before deciding whether to end their protest, while the Sindicato de Inquilinas has stressed that the mobilisation concerns Spain’s wider housing crisis rather than Maricarmen’s case alone.
Tuesday will therefore be decisive on two fronts. Ministers must first determine whether they have a package they are prepared to approve, before confronting the more difficult question of whether the eventual text can command enough support in Congress to survive.
For renters, landlords and property owners across Spain, the detail of that agreement could ultimately matter far more than the political battle surrounding it.