Sánchez pushes through housing decrees to test rivals and freeze rents
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A new set of housing decrees has reached the Official State Gazette, turning what was a cabinet disagreement into a centerpiece of the government's pre-campaign strategy. The rules require landlords to compensate tenants with a full year of rent if a lease is not automatically renewed, and they prevent investment funds from buying residential properties for less than 70% of their appraised value.
The measures include a freeze on high-priced rents until 2028 and the suspension of evictions for tenants who can pay their debts. Regional governments are now required to cover unpaid rent if they cannot provide alternative housing to those being evicted. To get the decrees moving, Pedro Sánchez reportedly intervened personally, seeing the policy as a useful tool against the opposition People’s Party.
Parliament is now debating the measures in a session of control that will serve as a tally of the government’s remaining support. While one decree is public, a second has been delayed until tomorrow, prompting complaints from the junior coalition partner, Sumar. Meanwhile, protesters in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol say they will stay in their encampment indefinitely.