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SPAIN could be facing a wave thousands of evictions after the parliament rejected a new extension of housing protections introduced during pandemic.
The purpose of the moratorium was to protect families who were vulnerable from being evicted from their homes if they could not pay their rent or mortgage during Covid.
The measure allowed the judge to temporarily pause eviction procedures while social services tried to find housing solutions to vulnerable tenants.
Pedro Sanchez, in March 2020, admitted that “not only will the moratorium extend to avoid evictions because of unpaid mortgages but also its remit, so that the decree will include more cases of vulnerability for many families.”
Pablo Iglesias of the left-wing Podemos Party added: “The Government is also going stop some evictions due to non-payment in high-tension market where vulture funds are involved.”
The Congress of Deputies, however, voted against the extension of eviction ban this week.
The People’s Party(PP), Vox and Junts per Catalunya voted to oppose the decree, saying it risks encouraging illegal occupations of properties.
Miriam Nogueras of Junts per Catalunya defended her party’s decision in rejecting the decree: ‘Social safety net, yes; squatting, no.’
But critics say that the new measures may make recovering a home from squatters more difficult.
Recent research estimates that 4 out of 10 renters in Spain face the risk of poverty or social exclusion.
Housing activists warn the decision could put 60,000-70,000 vulnerable households at danger of eviction over the coming months.
The campaigners claim that its removal could worsen the housing crisis in Spain, which experts have described as being a growing one.
In recent weeks, anti-eviction activists protested outside parliament, warning that if protections are allowed to expire, there will be a flood of evictions.
‘The message from Congress is clear: housing is a business, not a right,’ argued the Tenants’ Union.
Another present issue is the increase of ‘invisible evictions,’ when a tenant is forced out of their property before any legal proceedings, like an eviction has occurred.
Alejandra Jacinto of CAES, who has dealt with dozens of cases involving evictions, stated that the decision left vulnerable families exposed.
‘This is unacceptable in a democratic state governed by the rule of law, that suddenly there will be no protection or safeguards when sending people in vulnerable situations out onto the street,’ she said.
Around half a million rental contracts that were signed during the pandemic are said to be ending this year, ‘leaving many people unprotected against eviction attempts.’
According to data compiled by the European Anti-Poverty Network Spain, the moratorium and other protections have helped prevent approximately 1.5 million people from falling in poverty over the past few years.
Rent increases and eviction notices are no longer able to be delayed or stopped by the authorities while they search for other accommodation.
Rent increases are a major cause of financial hardships in Spain. Nearly 18% struggle to pay for the basics.
According to figures released by the General Council of the Judiciary, 27,564 evictions took place in 2024. That’s an increase of 3.4% over the previous year.
Catalonia was the most affected by evictions. Of all cases in the country, 26% (5,539) were linked to a dispute over rent.
Andalucia ranked second with 4,027 evictions. Valencia recorded 3,610 evictions and Madrid 2,375.
Housing advocates warn the lack of a moratorium could mean that eviction proceedings, which had been suspended previously, may now be resumed in courts all over the country.
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