Spain Bans Evictions Through 2030 Following Mass Housing Protests

Spain's coalition government has approved a new set of housing measures, including a ban on evictions until 2030, following nationwide protests over a housing crisis. Ministers met on Tuesday to discuss the proposals, which were introduced as two decrees that come into effect immediately but need approval from Congress within a month, with a vote expected as soon as Friday.

Key Measures

Health Minister Mónica García, of the Sumar alliance, said the rules will help more than five million people. The measures include rolling over rental contracts until 2028, stricter rules on short-term and room rentals, and a ban on investment firms buying housing. García credited the public protests and encampments for making the agreement possible. Meanwhile, the minority government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez lacks a majority in parliament and must win over opposition parties to keep the decrees in place.

Opposition and Activist Reactions

Opposition politician Míriam Nogueras, speaking for the Junts party, criticized the plan for lumping small landlords in with large investment funds. Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez urged parties to support the measures following the recent eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal in Madrid. Abascal's lawyer announced a separate deal allowing her to return home after her rent was capped at about $570 a month for the next eight years, taking up roughly 30 percent of her pension. Her apartment had previously been bought by an investment company that hiked rent beyond her pension.

Context

Spain's housing market has faced intense pressure due to rising rents and a shortage of affordable homes, which the central bank estimates at roughly 755,000 units. The country's minority government frequently has to negotiate across party lines to pass major economic decrees through parliament. Activist groups continue to push for broader reforms to protect tenants against soaring housing costs.