Spain’s new “right to housing” law enshrines rent control nationwide

Spain’s government just passed sweeping rent control as part of its first-ever national “right to housing” law.

The Ley por el Derecho a Vivienda (“Right to Housing Law”) will allow regional governments to impose rent caps for apartments owned by landlords (with 10 properties or more) in areas deemed to be “stressed markets.” It also includes tax penalties for owners who leave multiple units unrented for long periods, and includes provisions to reserve 30% of units in new housing construction for low-income public housing.

The measure, first approved in draft form last October, passed in the legislature on Feb. 1. It’s part of a continued effort by Spain’s left-wing government to address an urgent housing affordability crisis, in which renters have faced price hikes of 50% within a span of five years.

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