Junts threatens to block Spain’s housing decrees unless the government withdraws them

Junts announced it will vote against the housing decrees unless the Spanish government withdraws them and presents new texts with changes. The vote in Congress concerns measures such as protection against evictions, rent extensions, tax incentives and automatic lease renewals, the latter facing almost certain rejection.

Carles Puigdemont’s party increased the political pressure by warning that some measures would amount to an “expropriation by decree” of family savings. The government replied that it would not withdraw the texts. Decree-laws can take effect immediately, but they need to be ratified by Congress if they are not to lapse.

For landlords and tenants, the stand-off creates regulatory uncertainty. If the measures are approved, they may continue to affect rents and proceedings. If they fall or are amended, attention will have to turn to the final text adopted and to how it is applied in practice.