The failure of a key initiative
Congress recently rejected a proposed law aimed at regulating temporary and room rentals, an initiative introduced by Sumar that sought to address skyrocketing housing prices. This decision was blocked by the votes against the PP, Vox and Junts, who rejected the measure.
Motivations behind the proposal
The proposal was born out of concerns expressed by tenants’ unions, who have warned that temporary contracts have become a way of evading regulations that protect tenants. With the aim of stopping this trend, Sumar proposed to limit the duration of these contracts to six months, with the condition that, if they are linked more than twice, they are considered as habitual residence.
Criticisms and responses from the parties
Before the vote, Junts expressed his reservations, pointing out that the current data on housing is not positive and that the law passed a year ago has not solved the problems it wanted to address. Deputy Marta Madrenas highlighted the 30% decrease in the supply of rental flats in Catalonia, criticizing the current regulations.
The Tenants Union responds
In response to Junts’ vote, the Tenants’ Union has accused them of misinforming the population and harming tenants. After the vote, the unions have expressed their perplexity at the opposition of any party to discuss such an urgent issue as housing.
Proposals for real change
The unions have reiterated their demand for reforms in the Urban Leasing Law (LAU) to eradicate the abusive practices that have proliferated in the rental market. They argue that temporary rentals are often used to avoid the responsibilities of landlords, which exacerbates the housing crisis, especially in Catalonia, where 80% of the population is in stressed markets.
An uncertain future for tenants
With the rejection of this proposed law, tenants are faced with a complex picture. The lack of effective regulations allows temporary rentals to continue to negatively influence the housing market, leaving many tenants at the mercy of a system that does not protect their interests.
