Sanchez's housing decree faces split opposition and adds new landlord restrictions

Facing pressure from Catalan separatists and left-leaning tenant advocates, the Sanchez government released a comprehensive housing decree of 96 pages in the BOE. The text prolongs eviction bans for tenants deemed vulnerable until the end of 2030, a classification that now may apply to owners of more than two rental units and is reassessed each year by social services. Landlords who do not provide alternative housing within two months become financially liable, with the state promising compensation to autonomous communities, excluding interest for delayed payments.

Tenants are granted the right to commission necessary repairs and offset the expense against future rent if landlords ignore written requests within fifteen days, though disputes over repair scope could spark new conflicts. The decree also modifies the fiscal treatment of rental income, cutting the maximum deduction from 50% to as low as 15% for landlords who increase rents, while offering higher deductions for those who lower them. Finally, rent updates are capped at the government-published price index until the end of 2027, limiting landlords' ability to raise rents above that benchmark.