Junts, led by Carles Puigdemont, is threatening to block two government housing decrees in a tense Congress vote, putting Spain's housing reforms at risk. Party leaders have called the decrees a "trágala": a forced package with no chance for negotiation.
The basic issue is that the government bundled housing measures with unrelated financial and municipal tax rules into a single, non-amendable decree. Junts says this leaves the party powerless to shape the law, forcing it to accept the entire package or reject it. Moncloa officials, but, say the government approved two separate housing decrees on September 29, 2026, and sent them to Congress for an urgent vote. The decrees include an extension of eviction protections until 2030, new regulations for seasonal rentals and room rentals, and a ban on purchases by so-called 'vulture funds' until 2028.
Junts' frustration goes beyond the process. The party says the decrees ignore its basic proposals: tax breaks for home buyers, a special housing savings account, a lower 5% VAT rate, and the right for debtors to cancel mortgages by repaying the original loan. Instead, the government made lease extensions mandatory. Junts wanted them to be voluntary and open to negotiation. Several independent sources say the government also pushed a separate decree for "automatic extension" of rental contracts, which would lengthen leases unless Congress intervenes.
Regional power is another sticking point. Junts claims the decrees force the Generalitat to pay unpaid rent for vulnerable tenants, while the state refuses to cover interest costs. The party argues this places a financial burden on Catalonia and erodes its control over housing and social services.
The party is also angry that a decree Congress already rejected has returned. Junts says using the new Real Decreto-ley 8/2026 to revive lease extensions goes against Congress's decision. Lawmakers voted down similar measures in April. On April 28, 2026, Congress rejected the previous housing decree with 166 votes in favor, 177 against, and 5 abstentions. Junts, PP, Vox, and UPN voted no; PNV abstained, information from parliamentary records and reports from leading Spanish media. After the package was defeated in April 2026, the government split the new housing measures into separate decrees to improve their chances in Congress. As of September 29 and 30, support from Junts and PNV remained unconfirmed, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Landlords are also in Junts' sights. The decrees would freeze evictions until 2030, with no compensation for property owners, even if courts have already ruled in their favor. Junts says the rules for deciding who is affected rely on intent rather than hard data. It also points to the Constitutional Court's previous rulings striking down similar rules.
Legal uncertainty is another concern. Junts says the decree restricts property purchases without specifying what happens if someone breaks the rules, leaving buyers and sellers in limbo. The party warns that the new rules could override Catalan law by setting a national definition of "affordable housing" without clarifying whether Catalonia's seasonal rental laws would still apply.
Tax changes are another flashpoint. Junts says changing the IRPF by decree is unconstitutional if it alters basic parts of the tax, citing past Constitutional Court rulings. The party also questions the government's claim of urgency: some measures would not take effect until 2027, it argues, so they do not constitute an emergency.
The government could lose the vote, and Junts' detailed objections leave little room for a deal. Its public disappointment signals shaky support. The outcome depends on whether the government can address the objections or watch its housing plans fall apart in Congress. The Ministry of Housing says Minister Isabel Rodríguez has urged deputies to show "breadth of vision and generosity" to get the measures through Congress.
For tenants and landlords across Spain, the outcome could change the rules overnight. Recent government moves have already frozen rent hikes and set new limits for landlords, as reported earlier. The standoff with Junts shows how fragile the reforms are, amid deep divisions over tenant protections, property rights, and regional control.
Spain's coalition politics leave major reforms vulnerable to stalling at the last minute without substantive talks and respect for regional powers. The government's use of bundled decrees and procedural shortcuts has alienated basic partners and put progress on housing at risk. Unless Madrid rebuilds trust and offers concessions, hopes for housing reform could slip away.
