Just hours before a crucial Congress vote, Junts has rejected the government's housing decrees. Their objections target both the content and the process, putting Spain's housing reforms in real danger.
Junts has thrown Spain's housing reforms into chaos. The party, led by Carles Puigdemont, is threatening to block two government decrees in a tense Congress vote. Junts leaders have gone public with their anger, calling the decrees a "trágala"—a forced package with no chance for negotiation.
The main issue? The government bundled housing measures with unrelated financial and municipal tax rules into a single, non-amendable decree. Junts says this move leaves them powerless to shape the law. They face a simple choice: take it all or reject everything. But Moncloa officials insist the government actually approved two separate housing decrees on September 29, 2026, and sent them to Congress for urgent voting.
The government's housing 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 process. The party says the decrees ignore their main proposals. They wanted tax breaks for home buyers, a special housing savings account, a lower 5% VAT rate, and the right for debtors to cancel mortgages by paying back the original loan. Instead, the government made lease extensions mandatory. Junts wanted those to be voluntary and open to negotiation. Several independent sources say the government also pushed a separate decree for "automatic extension" of rental contracts. This would make leases longer unless Congress steps in to stop it.
Regional power is another sticking point. Junts claims the decrees force the Generalitat to pay for unpaid rent for vulnerable tenants. The state, they say, refuses to cover interest costs. Junts argues this puts a financial burden on Catalonia and chips away at its control over housing and social services.
The party is also angry about the return of a decree Congress already rejected. They say using the new Real Decreto-ley 8/2026 to revive lease extensions goes against the will of Congress. Lawmakers had already voted down similar measures in April. The numbers were clear: 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 all voted no. PNV abstained, according to parliamentary records and reports from top Spanish media.
The government split the new housing measures into separate decrees after the previous package was defeated in April 2026, hoping to improve their chances in Congress. However, as of September 29–30, support from Junts and PNV remained unconfirmed, leaving the outcome highly uncertain.
Landlords are also in Junts' sights. The decrees would freeze evictions until 2030. Property owners would get no compensation, even if courts have already ruled in their favor. Junts says the rules for who is affected are based on intent, not hard data. They point out that the Constitutional Court has already struck down similar rules before.
Legal uncertainty is a big worry. Junts says the decree limits property purchases but doesn't spell out what happens if someone breaks the rules. Buyers and sellers are left in limbo. The party warns the new rules could override Catalan law by setting a national definition of "affordable housing" and not making clear if Catalonia's seasonal rental laws still apply.
Tax changes are another flashpoint. Junts says changing the IRPF by decree is unconstitutional if it changes key parts of the tax. They cite past Constitutional Court rulings. The party also questions the government's claim of urgency. Some measures would not start until 2027. That's not an emergency, they argue.
The clock is ticking. The government could lose the vote. Junts' detailed objections leave little room for a deal. Their public disappointment shows support is shaky at best. Everything now depends on whether the government can address these issues 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. As reported earlier, recent government moves have already frozen rent hikes and set new limits for landlords. The current standoff with Junts shows just how fragile these reforms are. The split runs deep over how to balance tenant protections, property rights, and regional control.
This fight reveals a hard fact about Spain's coalition politics. Without real talks and respect for regional powers, even big reforms can stall at the last minute. The government's use of bundled decrees and procedural shortcuts has backfired. Key partners are alienated. Progress on housing is at risk. Unless Madrid rebuilds trust and offers real concessions, hopes for real housing reform could slip away.
