Rental market

Updated on 9 October 2026: Spain’s main trade unions have set 11 November as the date for a 24-hour general strike over housing affordability and wages. Further operational details, including minimum services, have yet to be announced.Spain’s two largest trade union federations, UGT and CCOO, h

In 1987, Kevin Costner starred in a spy thriller called No Way Out. He was a Russian asset planted in American society as a sleeper agent. No matter what he thought, did, or said, he was trapped.

Spain’s government has approved two housing decree-laws containing proposed changes for tourist rentals, seasonal lets, shared-flat room rentals and residential contracts, alongside tax measures and first-home buyer support.The main housing decree, Royal Decree-law 26/2026, was published in Spain’s

Spain’s government has revived a package of rental and eviction protections after the removal of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from the Madrid flat where she had lived for 71 years drew public attention to the country’s housing crisis.The main housing decree, Royal Decree-law 26/2026, was published

Spain’s rental market is stretching beyond the biggest city centres.

Flex living is becoming increasingly established in Barcelona and its surrounding area as one of the most dynamic segments of the living sector.

Renting a holiday home on the Catalan coast this summer will cost an average of €1,370 per week, just €17 above the national average of €1,353.

Spain’s government is preparing a new housing package that combines a sharp increase in VAT on tourist rentals with measures to extend and stabilise rental contracts, presented as part of its response to the country’s housing crisis.Spain’s new housing push: why it matters if you own or rentThe Span

Valencia has approved a new set of rules for tourist accommodation that local officials describe as “the most restrictive in Spain” for holiday lets. The measures, which entered into force in late May 2026, are designed to put an end to what the city government calls a “free‑for‑all” in tourist

It’s no secret that Spain faces a huge housing problem, which has only been compounding and aggravated over time, with the laws the government has approved in a continued market interventionism, which is backfiring. Spain’s property and rental prices have reached all-time highs.

Barcelona's rental market is increasingly fragmented, making "normal" housing hard to find. According to Amat Immobiliaris' 2025 report, supply is polarising: large flats for high earners and small flats are both on the rise, whilst the most sought-after middle ground – medium-sized flats – is all but disappearing.

Spain’s rental market is under intense pressure, with rising demand, limited supply and growing political scrutiny of tourist accommodation.

Amid a deepening housing crisis and a shortage of public homes, Barcelona City Council is turning to private landlords with grants of up to €30,000 to renovate empty or dilapidated properties – on the condition they are added to the public rental pool. The scheme aims both to upgrade ageing housing stock and to expand the supply of affordable, below-market rentals.

Spain has fired a clear warning shot at the short‑term rental market, after the country confirmed that Airbnb must face a €64 million fine.What has Spain fined Airbnb for?The fine was originally imposed in December 2025 by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030. It

Understanding how long a residential lease can last in Spain is no longer straightforward – recent legal changes have made it increasingly complex. Following the Housing Rights Act, lease duration now depends on several variables, including whether the landlord is an individual or a company and whether the property is in a high-demand area. As José Ramón Zurdo explains, determining the true length of a contract requires careful analysis of each specific case.

According to the latest data from property portal Idealista, 15% of rental homes in Spain were taken off the market in less than 24 hours during the final quarter of 2025. In some cities, demand is even more intense.

Article 18 of Spain’s Urban Leases Act (LAU) sets out how residential rents can be updated during a tenancy.

Barcelona has once again placed housing at the centre of political and social debate. The City Council’s plan to phase out 10,000 tourist accommodation licences by 2028 coincides with the Ministry of Housing ordering digital platforms to remove thousands of listings that fail to meet the new state registry rules. While both measures aim to curb tourist rentals, the sector questions how far they will ease the housing access crisis.

Andalusia’s new Ley 5/2025 abolishes the regional body that protected tenants’ rental deposits. Tenants now face greater risk of landlords withholding deposits, making refunds harder and potentially increasing legal disputes, especially for long-term and short-term rental agreements.

House prices in Spain could continue rising for the rest of the decade due to a persistent lack of supply. This is the main conclusion of a new real estate report by Bankinter analysts, which updates their forecasts and predicts price growth of 7% this year and 4% by 2027, in line with the quarterly investment report published at the end of last year.

Looking beyond Madrid and Barcelona opens up a very different side of the country.

The Dutch presence in Spain’s housing market has shifted from a niche to a firmly established trend. People from the Netherlands are now a significant force among foreign buyers and tenants in Spain.

Catalonia’s rental housing market came under intense pressure in 2025 due to a widening gap between supply and demand. Experts agree that little will change in 2026. Limited supply, sustained demand and rising rent are set to persist in a market shaped by ongoing regulation, including the designation of high-demand areas that continue to constrain available stock.

Marbella-based Larraín Nesbitt Abogados (LNA) has over 23 years of experience at your service. We offer a wide range of 60 legal and corporate services. Our team of native English-speaking lawyers and economists have a long track record of successfully assisting expats all over Spain.

The rental market in Andalusia is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in recent years. The new Andalusian Housing Law (Law 5/2025), which comes into force on 24 January, introduces major changes that will directly affect landlords, tenants and estate agents.