AGP Executive Report

Housing and Politics: Spain’s housing crisis is shaping the Nov. 29 snap election, with protests growing after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal died following her eviction from her Madrid home. A tenants’ general strike is planned for Nov. 11; parliament has rejected the government’s emergency housing measures. Rental Supply: Spain has lost 393,000 long-term rental homes as landlords reconsider the market, adding pressure to an already tight supply. Tourist Rentals: Barcelona is moving toward a property-tax surcharge of up to 150% on holiday lets, while Balearic owners face a reported €100 million annual VAT bill. On the Costa Blanca, El Verger is studying how holiday homes affect residents and urban development. Development: A Costa del Sol resident warns that new building is outpacing roads, water, healthcare and other essential services.

Housing Crisis: Spain’s housing revolt is shaping the snap election set for November 29. The eviction and later death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal has fuelled nationwide protests, with unions calling a general strike for November 11. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is making affordability central to his campaign after parliament rejected housing measures; revised proposals include rent caps, a temporary eviction ban and limits on company home purchases. Holiday Rentals: Barcelona is moving toward a property-tax surcharge of up to 150% on tourist apartments. In the Balearics, a 10% VAT on holiday rentals from December 1 could raise about €100 million a year, though the measure still needs parliamentary confirmation.

Housing and Politics: Spain’s housing crisis is driving the campaign for the November 29 election. Protests intensified after the death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, whose eviction became a national flashpoint; the government’s housing decrees were rejected in Congress. Eviction Rules: Replacement measures have already paused at least four eviction cases in Alicante, Valencia and Madrid, though protections do not cover every tenant. Rental Supply: Spain has lost nearly 393,000 long-term rental homes since 2018, deepening pressure on rents and availability. A new government rent calculator aims to help tenants check lawful charges. Tourist Lets: Barcelona is moving toward a property-tax surcharge of up to 150% on holiday rentals, adding to efforts to ease housing pressure. Building More Homes: Catalonia now accounts for almost half of Spain’s new protected housing, while Madrid has approved plans for 18,400 subsidized homes by 2028. The Bank of Spain has also warned that housing remains a constraint despite stronger growth forecasts.

Election and Housing: Pedro Sánchez has launched his campaign for Spain’s November 29 snap election amid protests over housing, intensified by the death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal after her eviction. He vows tougher protections for tenants if re-elected, after his government’s housing measures failed in parliament. Rental Market: Spain’s long-term rental supply has fallen 44% in seven years, while a new rent calculator aims to help tenants check what landlords can charge. Holiday Lets: Barcelona is moving toward a property-tax surcharge of up to 150% on tourist apartments, adding pressure on short-term rentals. Housing Supply: The Balearic housing minister says the islands face a 17,000-home shortfall, with 10,000 homes in planning—pipeline projects that offer little immediate relief.

Holiday Rentals: Barcelona’s finance committee backed a proposed property-tax surcharge of 50% for owners with one licensed tourist flat, rising to 150% for those with four or more. The plan still needs municipal approval. Housing Crisis and Election: Pedro Sánchez has begun campaigning for Spain’s November 29 snap election amid nationwide protests after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal died following her eviction from her Madrid home. Unions have called a November 11 general strike over housing and wages. Policy and Rental Supply: Sánchez is pledging stronger tenant protections, while his government revives rent-cap measures after parliament blocked earlier housing decrees. Spain has also lost 393,000 long-term rental homes as landlords reconsider the market.

Election & Housing: Pedro Sánchez began campaigning for Spain’s November 29 snap election as protests over soaring rents and evictions continue. Unions have called a nationwide housing strike for November 11. Policy Response: The government has revived rent-cap measures after parliament rejected its housing decrees, while Barcelona plans a tourist-apartment tax surcharge of up to 150%. Housing Crisis: The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal after her eviction has become a rallying point for demonstrators demanding affordable homes and tenant protections. Rental Supply: Catalonia’s rental contracts fell from 167,842 in 2021 to 108,057 in 2025; the region also accounts for nearly six in ten newly completed protected homes, highlighting the strain between supply and affordability.

Housing Crisis: The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, evicted from her Madrid home, has intensified nationwide protests and put housing at the centre of Spain’s November 29 election. Unions have called a housing strike for November 11. Rental Supply: Reports say Spain has lost nearly 400,000 long-term rental homes since 2018, as rising rents and limited availability fuel public anger. Policy Response: Barcelona’s city commission has backed a proposed 50% to 150% property-tax surcharge on tourist apartments, depending on how many a landlord owns; the measure still needs further approval. The government has also revived urgent housing decrees after Parliament rejected earlier proposals. Economic Outlook: The Bank of Spain raised its 2026 growth forecast to 2.6%, but warned that housing shortages remain a pressing concern.

Housing Flashpoint: Thousands marched in Madrid after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal died following her eviction, turning rent hikes and displacement into central issues ahead of Spain’s November 29 election. Unions have called a nationwide housing strike for November 11. Policy Fight: The government is reviving rent-cap measures after parliament rejected its housing plan. The opposition PP promises to build one million homes and says more than 300,000 homes have left the rental market—an estimate it attributes to government policies. Rental Supply: Spain has lost nearly 393,000 long-term rental homes since 2018, a 44% decline, according to one report. Tourist rentals are also set to face VAT from December 2026. Construction: Spanish construction output is forecast to grow 3% this year, outpacing Europe, though housing-permit momentum has eased.

Housing Protests: Around 20,000 people marched in Madrid after Maricarmen Abascal, 87, died two weeks after being evicted from her longtime home. Her case has become a flashpoint in Spain’s housing crisis and a central issue ahead of the November 29 election. Rent Rules: The government has reapproved housing decrees that were rejected in Parliament. They temporarily allow eligible tenants to extend leases by up to two years and cap rent increases at 2%; the measures still need approval from caretaker lawmakers. Strike: Unions have called a nationwide strike for November 11 over housing costs and wages. Protected Housing: Spain completed 11,270 protected homes in the first half of 2026, up 96% year on year. Catalonia accounted for 47% of the total, with Madrid contributing 26%.

Housing Protests: Maricarmen Abascal, 87, died in hospital two weeks after her eviction from her Madrid home. Her case has fuelled fresh protests and political recriminations over Spain’s housing crisis. Election and Policy: Housing is set to dominate the 29 November snap election. The government is reviving rejected housing measures, including protections for tenants and €50,000 interest-free loans for eligible first-time buyers; tourist rentals will face VAT from 1 December. Rental Market: Spain’s long-term rental supply has fallen 44% in seven years. A CIS survey found 70.6% support a two-year rent freeze and 75.6% favour limits on tourist apartments. New Homes: Madrid has approved plans that could deliver 18,400 protected homes by 2028.

Housing Crisis: María del Carmen “Maricarmen” Abascal, 87, has died in hospital after her eviction from the Madrid apartment where she had lived for 71 years. Her rent reportedly rose from €500 to €2,650 after a property fund acquired the building; her case galvanized protests across Spain. Political Fallout: The government is reviving housing decrees rejected by Congress, including measures affecting tenants and landlords, as it campaigns ahead of the November 29 snap election. Unions have called a nationwide housing strike for November 11, even though Parliament is dissolved. Rental Rules: New measures also put holiday lets in focus, with Spain ending a VAT exemption for thousands of rentals from December 1 and a proposed surcharge of up to 150% reported. A major property portal is also facing scrutiny over potentially misleading rental listings.

Housing Policy: Spain has reissued housing decrees after Parliament rejected them, with rent caps, a temporary eviction pause and limits on corporate home purchases. They take effect provisionally pending a vote by caretaker lawmakers, as the November 29 snap election campaign centres on affordability. Holiday Rentals: From December 1, qualifying stays of 30 nights or less face 10% VAT. Councils in designated stressed areas can also levy IBI surcharges of up to 150% on tourist lets, depending on an owner’s number of properties. Rental Market: Long-term rental listings in the Canary Islands fell 32.6% from 2018 to 2025, with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria down 55%. Portal Oversight: Spain’s consumer ministry has opened a case against a major property website over possible unfair practices in rental advertising; penalties could reach €100,000 or several times any illicit profit.

Housing Crisis & Snap Election: Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez called a snap general election for Nov. 29 after Parliament rejected emergency housing decrees, turning the housing fight into a central campaign issue. Urgent Housing Decrees Reworked: The government approved 21 new urgent housing measures again, including extending protections for vulnerable tenants, regulating room and seasonal rentals, adding a tax on seasonal rentals to fund first-home support, and restricting speculative purchases by large investors. First-Home Financing: A new €10bn “TU CASA” line via ICO will offer interest-free loans up to €50,000 for first-time buyers of a primary home, aimed at covering down-payment gaps. Barcelona Protests Turn Violent: A major rent protest in Barcelona escalated into clashes; police arrested 13 and reported injuries to officers. Legal/Political Fallout: With Congress dissolved, the decrees now face validation by the Permanent Deputation, while Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont’s arrest warrant was lifted, clearing his return ahead of the vote.

Housing Crisis & Protests: Spain’s government approved urgent housing measures after violent unrest in Barcelona, where clashes left dozens injured and arrests followed mass demonstrations tied to the eviction of an 87-year-old in Madrid. Snap Election Fallout: The housing defeat in parliament has pushed PM Pedro Sánchez to call a snap general election for Nov. 29, with opposition accusing the government of trying to bypass lawmakers via an interim “mini-parliament” vote. Tenant Protections Pushback: Madrid’s regional president Ayuso warned she’ll use “all legal instruments” if the decrees are validated, while unions are set to press for a general strike over housing costs. Catalonia Legal Twist: Spain’s Supreme Court lifted arrest warrants for Carles Puigdemont after the Constitutional Court backed applying the 2024 amnesty to embezzlement cases, clearing the way for his return ahead of the election. Local Housing Enforcement: In Bilbao’s Atxuri, a social-rental eviction carried out by Alokabide drew a protest outside the building, highlighting gaps in alternative housing for vulnerable tenants. Construction Outlook: A new eurozone construction survey points to continued weakness in building activity, underscoring the pressure on Spain’s housing supply.

Snap Election Triggered by Housing Vote: Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez dissolved parliament and called a snap general election for Nov. 29 after Congress rejected two emergency housing decrees aimed at curbing evictions and speculation. Protests Keep Escalating: The decision follows days of nationwide anger sparked by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal in Madrid, with camps and demonstrations spreading to major cities including Barcelona, where protesters clashed with police. Campaign Focus: Rent, Evictions, and Inequality: Sánchez framed the vote as a bid to win a “broader progressive majority” to push reforms, while analysts warn it could also open the door to a PP–Vox coalition. Labor Pressure Builds: Spain’s unions UGT and CCOO agreed to prepare a 24-hour general strike this autumn over wages and housing costs, coordinating with tenants groups; no date is set yet. Market Mood: The political shock is adding to broader European financial jitters, with the euro pressured amid France’s fiscal worries and Spain’s election uncertainty.

Snap Election Triggered by Housing Defeat: Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez called a snap general election for 29 Nov after Congress rejected two emergency housing decrees meant to curb evictions and rental speculation, with the vote turning on opposition and the conservative Catalan party Junts. Protests Keep Pressure on: The decision follows days of mass demonstrations across Spain after the televised eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, with Madrid’s Puerta del Sol camp continuing and Valencia protests escalating into clashes. Legal and Local Tensions: In València, a judge provisionally freed five detained protesters tied to last Saturday’s housing-rights disturbances. In Madrid, courts blocked an immediate eviction of the Sol camp, while officials trade accusations over the right to assemble and public order. Canary Islands Buyer Rules: Activists in the Canaries renewed calls to restrict non-resident property purchases, arguing current proposals don’t go far enough. Market Backdrop: The political shock is also feeding investor jitters as the euro slid on broader European fiscal concerns.