Spain has introduced a new regulation that directly affects owners of a single rental apartment. These landlords are now exempt from obligations related to unpaid rent and can more quickly reclaim their property in case of payment issues. The decision has sparked intense debate in political circles and could shift the balance in the rental market.
New rules
The essence of the changes is that so-called ‘small landlords’—individuals who own only one rental property—are no longer required to bear the consequences of prolonged non-payment. The anti-crisis eviction moratorium, which previously applied to everyone, has been lifted for them. Now, if a tenant stops paying, the owner can reclaim their property and put it back on the market.
Authorities emphasize that this decision is aimed at preventing the emergence of new vulnerable citizens among those renting out their only home. According to advocates of the change, many such owners could themselves end up in financial difficulty due to being unable to manage their own property.
Political conflict
However, not everyone in parliament supported the new measure. Representatives of one left-wing party sharply criticized the agreement between the government and the Basque political force, calling it ‘disgusting’ and accusing it of protecting the interests of wealthy citizens. In their view, the changes will speed up evictions and leave tenants facing difficult life situations defenseless.
A debate has erupted on social media: some believe the state should protect small property owners, while others insist that supporting tenants must take priority. In response to the criticism, representatives of the Basque party said they had achieved a fair division between major real estate owners and those who rent out their only apartment.
Dividing property owners
A key part of the reform was a clear distinction between small landlords and large property holders. The latter now includes individuals or companies owning five or more apartments in a high-pressure area, or ten or more across the country. For them, existing restrictions and requirements to provide alternative housing to tenants in case of eviction remain in force.
Small property owners, on the other hand, are exempt from this obligation. Supporters of the changes believe this will prevent ordinary citizens from being held to the same level of responsibility as large investors and funds.
Next steps
After reaching an agreement, the government decided to divide the package of social measures into two separate decrees. One of them concerns the indexation of pensions and other agreed initiatives, while the second extends certain anti-crisis measures, but with new exceptions for small landlords.
The Basque party expressed satisfaction that their proposals had been taken into account and expects to continue negotiations to further improve housing legislation. Meanwhile, the opposition insists on the need for additional guarantees for tenants to prevent an increase in evictions.
Context and consequences
In recent years, Spain has repeatedly changed its rental housing regulations, especially in response to economic crises and the growing number of vulnerable families. In 2021, a temporary eviction ban was introduced, which was extended several times. However, as the number of missed payments and complaints from small property owners rose, authorities began seeking compromises.
Similar disputes have arisen in other European countries, where striking a balance between protecting tenants and the rights of property owners remains one of the most pressing issues. In Spain, each new change in this area sparks lively debate and affects the real estate market as well as social stability in cities and regions.
