The government partners, PSOE and Sumar, have agreed to include in the new housing decree a freeze on rental prices that those whose contract expires before July 2028 will be able to benefit from. According to sources from the minority partner of the coalition confirmed this Wednesday, after the pact within the Executive, the text now goes to be negotiated with the groups to achieve validation in Congress. From the socialist sector of the Government, they appeal for discretion while waiting to close the agreement with the formations of the Lower House, who are already studying the document.
According to the same sources from Sumar, this “reinforced extension,” which the Council of Ministers plans to approve next Tuesday, will be for a maximum of two years. In total —from March 21, 2026, to June 30, 2028— almost four million people and one and a half million households will be able to benefit from the measure. The previous freeze, which PP, Vox, Junts, and UPN overturned last April, covered until the end of 2027.
The decree also includes other measures, such as the regulation of seasonal and room rentals to put an end to the fraudulent use of these rentals as a way of circumventing the regular housing rental regime and price limits in stressed areas. In addition, an increase in the taxation of tourist apartments to 21% VAT and the tightening of the sanctioning regime on their advertising on platforms, measures focused on “disincentivizing tourist rentals,” explain Sumar.
At the request of the group coordinated by Yolanda Díaz in the Executive, the decree incorporates a proposal to be negotiated with the parliamentary groups on measures to protect vulnerable families, with the aim of preventing evictions and ensuring that no one is left without a housing alternative. Although this has been a demand from Podemos to support the decree, its viability is limited because Junts opposes it. Carles Puigdemont’s party, whose vote is necessary for the decree to go ahead, demanded tax breaks for home purchases and landlords, in addition to franchised VAT for the self-employed, issues on which Sumar currently offers no details.
