Government plans to protect renters
In the coming months, the Spanish authorities intend to submit a bill to parliament aimed at extending a number of social measures introduced during the pandemic. Among them are a ban on evicting families facing financial hardship due to an inability to pay rent, as well as maintaining access to basic utilities for vulnerable households.
Congress discussions and politicians’ positions
At a recent session in the lower house of parliament (Congreso de los Diputados), EH Bildu representatives raised the issue of further extending the so-called ‘social shield.’ This package of measures was adopted in 2020 in response to the crisis caused by the pandemic and has since been extended several times. It includes not only restrictions on evictions and utility shutoffs, but also free public transport and the indexation of minimum income and pensions.
María Jesús Montero, who serves as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, confirmed that the government is considering submitting most of these measures to a parliamentary vote. She emphasized that supporting vulnerable groups goes hand in hand with the country’s economic growth.
Reaction from the real estate market and property owners
At the same time, representatives of the rental housing market have already begun preparing for a possible extension of the eviction moratorium. According to Laura Fernández, head of the Association of Rental Property Owners (Asval), most large and small landlords are concerned about the risks associated with non-payment of rent and the inability to recover their properties. The association insists on the need to strengthen guarantees for property owners in order to encourage more housing supply on the rental market.
Fernández emphasized that without clear legal mechanisms and guarantees, landlords see no incentive to rent out their apartments. Compensation remains a pressing issue as well: if the state cannot provide alternative housing, owners have the right to claim compensation for their losses.
Details of current restrictions and possible changes
The eviction moratorium was first introduced in March 2020 and has since been extended multiple times. The latest extension is valid until the end of December 2025, but authorities are considering another postponement. The restrictions apply to families who have no alternative housing and are in a vulnerable situation, as well as to victims of domestic violence, people with addictions, and families with children, if their homes belong to large property owners (those who own more than 10 properties).
Property owners can apply for compensation until the end of January 2026 if the authorities do not provide tenants with alternative housing within three months. To do this, tenants must apply to the court to suspend the eviction, and municipal services are required to confirm their status. The responsibility for finding new housing lies with the regional administrations.
Debate on the future of social support
There have been suggestions in parliament to make the temporary measures permanent. Some political groups, including Podemos, are calling for structural changes to the tenant protection system. The issue of balancing the interests of property owners with the need to support vulnerable citizens remains a topic of active debate.
