Spain’s parliament rejects gov’t housing decrees amid mass protests
News Source
•Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:01:08 +0000
📰 What Happened
Spain’s lower house of parliament rejected two government decrees meant to ease the housing crisis. The first would have made it harder to evict vulnerable people, limited real estate speculation, tightened rules on short-term leases and offered tax breaks to boost renting and building. The second would have made leases renew automatically when they expire, unless landlords paid tenants 12 months of rent.
🔍 The Backstory
The votes came after protests grew over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces public anger over rising rents and home prices. The Catalan party Junts refused to back the plan, and the centre-right Popular Party and far-right Vox also voted no. The defeat is a heavy blow to the government.
🎯 Why It Matters
Rents keep rising in many Spanish cities, and tenants hoping for new protections will not get them for now.
Spain’s lower house of parliament rejected two government decrees meant to ease the housing crisis. The first would have made it harder to evict vulnerable people, limited real estate speculation, tightened rules on short-term leases and offered tax breaks to boost renting and building. The second would have made leases renew automatically when they expire, unless landlords paid tenants 12 months of rent.
The votes came after protests grew over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces public anger over rising rents and home prices. The Catalan party Junts refused to back the plan, and the centre-right Popular Party and far-right Vox also voted no. The defeat is a heavy blow to the government.
Rents keep rising in many Spanish cities, and tenants hoping for new protections will not get them for now.