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Spain’s housing crisis has pushed the country’s coalition government into announcing an emergency package of measures, including a proposed ban on evictions until 2030. The decision follows widespread protests after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was removed from her Madrid apartment.
Ministers approved two decrees on Tuesday after demonstrations spread through Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga and Cadiz. The proposals came into effect immediately but must be approved by Congress within 30 days. The minority government hopes lawmakers will vote on the package as early as Friday.
Spain eviction ban aims to deliver urgent housing relief
The measures are designed to provide greater security for tenants facing rising rents, unaffordable housing and the threat of losing their homes. Health Minister Mónica García said the proposals could bring relief to more than five million people.
- Evictions would be suspended until 2030.
- Rental contracts could be extended until 2028.
- Short-term and room rentals would face stricter regulation.
- Investment firms would be prohibited from purchasing housing under the proposed rules.
García described the plan as an attempt to intervene in what she called a speculative housing market. She said the government needed to restore balance between ordinary residents and large investment companies, which ministers have frequently labelled “vulture funds”.
“It is time to intervene in the speculative housing market and start striking a balance between ordinary citizens and vulture funds,” García said.
Maricarmen Abascal case sparks powerful public reaction
Abascal’s eviction became a symbol of Spain’s housing emergency. She had lived in the Madrid apartment for decades after her father first rented it in 1956. Following her parents’ deaths, she remained in the property under a rent cap.
That changed after investment company Urbagestión bought the apartment in 2018. The rent was increased to more than Abascal’s monthly pension, leaving her unable to keep up with the payments. She was eventually removed from the property on a stretcher and later admitted to hospital.
Her lawyer has said that an agreement was reached with the company allowing Abascal to return home. However, she was unable to attend the meeting and had not yet signed the deal at the time of the government’s announcement.
Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez urged political parties to support the decrees, saying Congress had an opportunity to ensure that Abascal’s suffering would benefit others facing similar circumstances.
Political battle threatens to derail major reforms
The proposed reforms face a difficult path through parliament. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s left-wing coalition, made up of the Socialists and junior partner Sumar, does not hold a majority.
Support from Junts and other right-leaning parties may be essential. Míriam Nogueras, a Junts spokeswoman, welcomed action against evictions involving large investment funds but criticised what she viewed as a failure to distinguish those companies from small property owners.
“Lumping together in this category those who have invested their savings in a flat, a restaurant or a property is a mistake,” Nogueras told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE.
The government has struggled to pass earlier housing proposals. A decree seeking to extend rental contracts was blocked in April by right-leaning parties, raising questions over whether the latest package can survive the parliamentary process.
Spain faces deepening shortage of affordable homes
Housing activists say the government’s announcement is an important first step but not the end of the campaign. Valeria Racu of the Madrid Tenants’ Union said protests would continue, while Alicia del Río warned that campaigners would examine the small print of the legislation.
Hundreds of tents have been erected in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, where demonstrators have demanded stronger tenant protections. Thousands of people marched through the capital as anger grew over soaring rents and limited supply.
The Bank of Spain estimates that the country is short of around 700,000 homes. National statistics showed house prices rising by 12.2% over the year to the second quarter of 2026.
Rental costs have also climbed sharply. Real estate firm Idealista reported that rents increased by 8.5% in 2025, with Madrid recording a 9.7% rise. Barcelona and Madrid were identified as the country’s most expensive cities for renters, at €23.80 and €22.70 per square metre respectively.
The scale of the shortage means the proposed eviction ban could offer temporary relief to vulnerable households, but critics argue that Spain also needs a long-term plan to build more affordable homes. The coming parliamentary vote will determine whether the government’s response to the protests becomes permanent law or remains a short-lived political promise.
Frequently asked questions
Why has Spain proposed an eviction ban?
The government announced the measure after protests over the housing crisis and the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid apartment.
How long would the proposed eviction ban last?
The proposed ban would suspend evictions until 2030, although the decrees must first receive approval from Congress.
What other housing measures has Spain announced?
The package includes rental contract extensions until 2028, tighter rules for short-term and room rentals, and restrictions on investment firms buying homes.
Will the measures definitely become law?
No. Spain’s coalition government lacks a parliamentary majority and must secure enough support from opposition parties within 30 days.
