Extension of rentals, more control over tourist flats and anti-eviction measures: this is Sumar's new housing decree

The housing access crisis is once again at the center of political debate. After the parliamentary failure of the previous decree on rentals, Sumar confirmed this Wednesday that it will once again bring a new regulation to the Congress with which it intends to expand the protection of tenants and reinforce measures against evictions of vulnerable people. The party hopes to pass the text before the end of the summer and has already advanced some of its main contents.

The most notable measure will be the extension of rental contracts through a new extraordinary extension of up to two years. According to them, tenants whose contracts end by June 30, 2028 will be able to benefit from it. The party estimates that this extension could benefit nearly four million people and about one and a half million households between March 2026 and June 2028.

The initiative comes after Congress rejected a decree that pursued similar objectives. After that parliamentary setback, the groups that make up Sumar committed to drafting a new proposal capable of garnering more support, especially among their investiture partners. Among the measures that were put on the table were tax incentives for owners, an issue on which the party has not yet offered details and which has already generated rejection from Podemos, which has warned that it will not support the text if it finally incorporates these bonuses.

In addition to the extension of rentals, the future decree contemplates the specific regulation of temporary and room rentals. The objective is to prevent these modalities from being used to circumvent habitual housing regulations or the price limits established in the so-called stressed areas.

The proposal also tightens measures against tourist apartments. Among the novelties is the increase in their taxation to 21% VAT and a reinforcement of the sanctioning regime related to the advertising of these homes on digital platforms. Sumar believes that these initiatives can contribute to curbing the expansion of tourist rentals and promote greater availability of residential housing.

Another of the pillars of the norm will be the protection of vulnerable families. The formation intends to negotiate with the rest of the parliamentary groups new measures to avoid evictions without housing alternatives and to reinforce guarantees for people at risk of residential exclusion.