Junts has torpedoed the Spanish government’s housing decrees, arguing they would harm small landlords and reduce rental supply. The move follows intense opposition from business groups and local leaders, deepening the political rift in Catalonia.
After late-night calls and days of criticism from business groups and Junts’ own mayors, the party voted with PP and Vox to defeat two of the Spanish government’s basic housing decrees. On October 2, 2026, Spain’s Congress rejected the measures by votes of 178 to 172 and 184 to 166, worsening the standoff over the country’s housing crisis.
Spanish media reported that the first decree aimed to stop some evictions and regulate seasonal and room rentals, while also curbing speculation and limiting investment fund purchases. The second would have required landlords to extend basic-residence rental contracts unless they had legal grounds to end them.
After the defeat, Euronews reported that protests were planned in more than 50 cities across Spain, reflecting public frustration with the ongoing housing crisis.
Pimec initially offered mild support, welcoming the idea of better access to housing. That position shifted as legal and economic doubts grew, alongside fears of shrinking rental supply. The Catalan Chambers of Property and the Administrators of Estates in Barcelona-Lleida warned that the decrees could worsen the housing shortage. Foment accused the government of trying to "socialize private property" and harming pensioners who depend on rental income.
Inside Junts, the debate grew fierce. Some party members said the decrees were shaped by extreme ideologies, while Junts mayors called the rules unworkable and legally shaky. The party’s leaders pushed for changes to help landlords and speed up evictions of squatters. They also wanted eviction bans limited to big property owners. Junts opposed rules on seasonal rentals, saying they block access to housing.
Before the vote, Junts had said it would oppose the decrees unless the government withdrew them and restarted negotiations on a new text. Spanish media reported that the party argued the measures could reduce the supply of rental housing and push properties off the market, echoing concerns raised by Catalan business associations and local municipalities.
Junts’ voters lean right, and the party’s leaders now echo far-right talking points on housing. Junts accuses the government of breaking earlier deals and rejects Pedro Sánchez’s agenda. The defeat of the decrees is a turning point for Junts and Catalonia’s parliament.
Business groups had real sway. Foment’s attack on the decrees as a threat to private property resonated with Junts supporters, while Pimec’s shift from support to doubt showed that even early backers had lost faith in the reforms.
Recent Spanish media analysis suggests the defeat could shake up national politics. Some speculate about early elections if the government continues to lose basic votes.
Junts’ move lays bare the deep split over housing reform in Spain. By siding with property owners and rejecting what it sees as heavy-handed rules, the party has drawn a hard line. Business lobbies retain large influence, and any new housing reform will face a fight unless it can balance social needs with property rights. For now, the government’s housing plans are stuck, and the political fallout is just starting.
