A heated political debate has erupted in Spain after the Partido Popular (PP) proposed lowering the income threshold for recognizing a family as vulnerable from €1,800 to €900 per month. This move could significantly change eviction and rental regulations, affecting thousands of households across the country. The bill has already sparked intense reactions in Congress, where representatives of left-wing parties accused its proponents of trying to make it harder to protect low-income families.
Changes in housing law
According to current legislation, a family is considered vulnerable if its income does not exceed three times the Iprem—€1,800 in 2026. The PP proposes to reduce this threshold to 1.5 Iprem, or €900. If the amendments are passed, the number of families eligible for protection from eviction will be significantly reduced. Additionally, the party suggests shortening the period tenants have after a court eviction order from two months to one.
Opposition response and conflict in Congress
The PP initiative has drawn sharp criticism from left-wing factions. Representatives from EH Bildu and Sumar stated that such measures in effect deprive the most vulnerable citizens of support. During the debate in Congress, questions were raised about whether it is possible to live on €900 a month, along with accusations against the PP of supporting the interests of large property owners and investors. PNV deputy Maribel Vaquero and socialists recalled that similar proposals had previously been rejected, despite support from some municipalities.
Lifting rental restrictions and speeding up procedures
The PP’s bill also envisions abolishing the possibility of declaring areas as tense rental markets, a measure that previously allowed for limiting rises in housing prices. In addition, it proposes streamlining building permit issuance and speeding up the review of urban development plans. According to the authors of the initiative, these measures will help increase the supply of new housing. However, the opposition believes this will lead to increased speculation in the real estate market.
Context and comparison with other initiatives
Regulation of the housing market and tenant protection remain some of the most pressing issues in Spanish politics. Similar reforms have previously been proposed by the Socialists, but did not receive support from the PP. As reported by RUSSPAIN, disputes over urban planning changes and rental housing have repeatedly sparked heated debates in parliament. In particular, recent discussions in Barcelona regarding investments in the Rodalies transport system were also marked by party conflicts — for more details, see the article about the debates over Rodalies and infrastructure solutions.
