https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The Spanish Congress on Tuesday rejected the decree that sought to extend rental contracts as a means of protecting tenants from evictions and price gouging. So what does this mean for renters' rights and price increases? https://www.thelocal.es/20260429/what-happens-now-that-spains-rental-contract-extension-has-been-rejected Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:06:36 +0200 what-happens-now-that-spains-rental-contract-extension-has-been-rejected Have you had trouble trying to find a rental apartment in Spain or are you in the process of moving here and worried about finding somewhere? Each apartment in Spain now see an average of 41 interested parties. https://www.thelocal.es/20260416/rental-apartments-in-spain-see-average-of-41-enquiries-each Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:24:36 +0200 rental-apartments-in-spain-see-average-of-41-enquiries-each Recently moved house and looking to furnish your new home in Spain? Here's where to look for furniture beyond the likes of Ikea. https://www.thelocal.es/20250722/more-than-ikea-where-else-to-buy-furniture-in-spain Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:01:15 +0200 more-than-ikea-where-else-to-buy-furniture-in-spain Here's what you need to know about the Spanish government's new decree regarding rental contracts, whether you're a landlord or a tenant. https://www.thelocal.es/20260323/what-spains-rent-cap-extension-means-for-tenants-and-landlords Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:42:24 +0100 what-spains-rent-cap-extension-means-for-tenants-and-landlords Barcelona city council is launching a new rent subsidy of up to €400 per month for Barcelona residents who are single parents and residents over 55 years of age if they spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent. These are the steps to apply. https://www.thelocal.es/20260220/how-single-parents-and-over-55s-can-get-e400-to-help-pay-the-rent-in-barcelona Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:40:05 +0100 how-single-parents-and-over-55s-can-get-e400-to-help-pay-the-rent-in-barcelona What happens if your neighbours are causing a serious stench in your apartment building? Perhaps they make very smelly food, have stinky pets or some other foul smell is emanating from their flat. Find out what Spanish law says about it. https://www.thelocal.es/20260217/what-can-i-legally-do-about-bad-odours-in-my-building-in-spain Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:23:21 +0100 what-can-i-legally-do-about-bad-odours-in-my-building-in-spain There have been several rumours circulating online and reports in the Spanish media recently stating that Spain's tax authorities can demand payments from adult children who live rent-free in their parents’ property. https://www.thelocal.es/20260128/fact-check-is-living-rent-free-in-parents-property-in-spain-taxed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:53:49 +0100 fact-check-is-living-rent-free-in-parents-property-in-spain-taxed Spain's Prime Minister on Monday promised a personal income tax rebate to landlords who don't raise their tenants' rents, as well as vowing to clamp down on the practice of temporary and room rentals in the country. https://www.thelocal.es/20260113/spain-to-offer-100-percent-tax-rebate-to-landlords-who-dont-raise-rents Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:54:06 +0100 spain-to-offer-100-percent-tax-rebate-to-landlords-who-dont-raise-rents Who has to pay the real estate agent commission (usually equivalent to one month's rent) in Spain: the landlord or the new tenant? And are there exceptions to the rules or underhand tricks agents use to get tenants to cough up more money? https://www.thelocal.es/20241105/do-i-have-to-pay-the-estate-agent-a-commission-if-i-rent-in-spain Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:05:54 +0100 do-i-have-to-pay-the-estate-agent-a-commission-if-i-rent-in-spain What happens if you want to change your electricity supplier in Spain? How do you go about it and what are the pitfalls to watch out for? https://www.thelocal.es/20231024/explained-how-to-change-your-electricity-provider-in-spain Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:08:18 +0200 explained-how-to-change-your-electricity-provider-in-spain Is your rental contract in Spain due to expire in the new year? If so, you could be facing significant rent hikes. Read on to find out how much your landlord is allowed to increase it by and the steps they need to take to make it legal. https://www.thelocal.es/20251229/how-you-could-prevent-your-rent-in-spain-from-going-up-in-2026 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:06:07 +0100 how-you-could-prevent-your-rent-in-spain-from-going-up-in-2026 If you’re thinking of buying a property in Spain next year, or renting one out, you’ll want to know what the projections are for the state of the market in 2026. https://www.thelocal.es/20251210/what-will-happen-to-property-prices-and-rents-in-spain-in-2026 Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:01:32 +0100 what-will-happen-to-property-prices-and-rents-in-spain-in-2026 Catalonia on Thursday became the first region in Spain to pass legislation which prevents landlords from renting accommodation on a temporary basis rather than long-term in order to skirt price caps and other standard rental rules. https://www.thelocal.es/20251219/catalonia-passes-spains-first-law-banning-temporary-rental-trick Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:22:39 +0100 catalonia-passes-spains-first-law-banning-temporary-rental-trick Spain’s Housing Minister recently presented the government’s plans for a new public housing department to boost the country's affordable rental housing stock. Here's what you need to know about how it will work, including who will be eligible. https://www.thelocal.es/20251209/casa-47-what-to-know-about-spains-new-public-housing-department Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:58:20 +0100 casa-47-what-to-know-about-spains-new-public-housing-department Over a million renters in Spain who signed rental contracts in 2020-21 are due to renew them sometime in the next year, meaning many of them could face price hikes or even eviction. https://www.thelocal.es/20251204/1-6-million-renters-in-spain-face-eviction-or-price-hikes-in-2026 Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:43:10 +0100 1-6-million-renters-in-spain-face-eviction-or-price-hikes-in-2026 One of the ways landlords in Spain can be convinced that you'll be a trustworthy tenant who pays their rent every month is to provide a guarantor ('avalista') as extra assurance. Here is the process to do it officially and the paperwork you'll need. https://www.thelocal.es/20240924/how-to-use-a-guarantor-to-convince-a-landlord-in-spain-to-rent-to-you Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:14:29 +0200 how-to-use-a-guarantor-to-convince-a-landlord-in-spain-to-rent-to-you There are some common matters involved in renting a place in Spain that many foreigners find surprising. Here are ten important factors you need to keep in mind when looking for and securing an apartment in Spain to rent. https://www.thelocal.es/20241018/ten-things-to-expect-when-renting-an-apartment-in-spain Fri, 18 Oct 2024 13:53:17 +0200 ten-things-to-expect-when-renting-an-apartment-in-spain Whether or not you can smoke in your flat or even on the balcony depends on several different factors and can in some cases come down to the goodwill of your landlord and neighbours. https://www.thelocal.es/20240904/can-my-landlord-stop-me-from-smoking-in-my-rental-in-spain Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:43:46 +0200 can-my-landlord-stop-me-from-smoking-in-my-rental-in-spain Spain's property crisis is often blamed on factors such as the lack of affordable public housing and the proliferation of tourist apartments, but there are many other points involved which are also contributing to spiralling prices. https://www.thelocal.es/20251112/the-overlooked-factors-causing-spains-housing-crisis Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:54:22 +0100 the-overlooked-factors-causing-spains-housing-crisis A new study on social exclusion in Spain has found evidence that the combination of rising property prices and job insecurity is shrinking the Spanish middle class and pushing people into economic precariousness. https://www.thelocal.es/20251107/housing-and-job-insecurity-rises-as-spains-middle-class-shrinks Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:27:41 +0100 housing-and-job-insecurity-rises-as-spains-middle-class-shrinks