Spain Approves Housing Measures Ahead of Snap Election

Spain’s government has approved two housing decrees that were at the centre of the political dispute leading Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call a snap election. The measures include rent caps, a temporary ban on evictions and restrictions on corporate purchases of residential property. Sanchez said the policies were aimed at protecting vulnerable people and addressing problems in the housing market.

The government is bringing the measures forward ahead of the November 29 election, which was originally scheduled for 2027. The decrees will temporarily take effect once published in the official state gazette but must still receive approval from lawmakers who remain in place after parliament was dissolved. A separate proposal for automatic renewal of rental contracts will require approval from the reduced legislature.

The housing measures have drawn criticism from property developers, who argue that restrictions could discourage investment and worsen the shortage of affordable homes. The debate has intensified following protests over housing costs and an attempted eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid. Sanchez said the government would respect calls for a general strike ahead of the election.

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