Spain Proposes Eviction Ban Until 2030 Following Nationwide Housing Protests
According to Anadolu Agency, spain's coalition government has approved a series of emergency housing decrees aimed at curbing speculative market practices and protecting tenants, following widespread public outcry over the forced eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner in Madrid. The proposed measures, which the government intends to bring to a parliamentary vote as early as this Friday, include a moratorium on evictions until 2030 and the automatic renewal of rental contracts until 2028.
According to Newtral, spain originally established the suspension of evictions for vulnerable households under Royal Decree-Law 11/2020 during the COVID-19 emergency, subsequently extending it through successive annual decrees as the 'social shield.'. According to RTVE, for Congress of Deputies, The government scheduled an extraordinary parliamentary session for Friday to submit both royal decree-laws for mandatory congressional validation.
According to Newtral, for Spanish Coalition Government, The coalition split the legislation into two distinct decrees to prevent opposition to indefinite contracts from derailing the entire eviction protection and tax package.
Legislative Response to Housing Crisis
The government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is seeking to address a severe housing shortage that has seen rental costs climb by 8.5% in 2025, with major cities like Madrid and Barcelona experiencing even sharper increases. Health Minister Mónica García stated that the new decrees represent a direct intervention against speculative investment firms, which the government has labeled as vulture funds. In addition to the eviction ban and contract extensions, the proposals include stricter regulations on short-term and room rentals, as well as a prohibition on investment firms purchasing residential housing.
According to RTVE, for Spanish Eviction Ban, Unlike temporary six-month crisis extensions enacted during the pandemic, the proposed decree-law creates a multi-year statutory eviction freeze spanning more than four years through December 2030.
Political Hurdles and Tenant Demands
The minority government faces a difficult path to secure the necessary parliamentary support for these decrees. The centre-right Junts party, whose backing is essential, has expressed reservations about the impact on small landlords. Spokeswoman Míriam Nogueras argued that while evictions by large investment funds should be stopped, the government's current approach fails to distinguish between institutional speculators and individuals who have invested their savings in property.
Activists, including the Sindicato de Inquilinas, have maintained pressure on the government, with ongoing encampments in Madrid and other cities. They have signaled that they will continue to protest until their full demands are met, emphasizing that the legislation must provide robust protections for tenants. Meanwhile, the case of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, whose eviction last week sparked the national movement, remains a focal point. According to Anadolu Agency, her legal representative confirmed that the property owner, UrbaGestión, has offered a preliminary agreement that could allow her to return to her home, provided she agrees to pay 30% of her pension in rent, a figure consistent with her previous housing costs before the company acquired the property and significantly hiked the rent.