The Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy, explained this Thursday that the latest proceedings initiated against a real estate company include behaviors that could constitute "abusive practices" and carry sanctions of up to one million euros for each infraction.
"We are talking about conduct that could constitute abusive practices regarding consumer rights," he stated at a press conference.
As he detailed, if the investigation confirms these facts, the infractions could be punished with fines of up to one million euros for each of the detected practices, or with sanctions equivalent to between six and eight times the illicitly obtained profit.
The minister was referring to the new proceedings announced this Thursday by his department, opened to sanction a real estate company that manages the rental of thousands of homes in different autonomous communities, after detecting that it could have incurred four different types of infractions.
In particular, the Consumer Affairs department considers the obligation imposed on the tenant to contract non-payment insurance and the inclusion of a clause recognizing individualized negotiation in a contract of adhesion as possible infractions.
The setting of a "disproportionate" penalty for each day of delay in the delivery of the dwelling, as well as the incorporation of a clause that transfers "unjustified" expenses and penalties related to supply equipment and changes of ownership to the tenant, are also being analyzed as potentially sanctionable.
Bustinduy lamented that for "too long" tenants' rights in Spain may have been perceived as "second-class rights" to which administrations did not pay sufficient attention. He stressed, however, that Consumer Affairs will act "with full determination" to guarantee their protection and urged tenants to "report" any abusive practice they detect in their rental contracts.
Likewise, he lashed out at real estate companies that "take advantage of a supposed position of vulnerability or helplessness" of these citizens with the aim of "further multiplying the profits on their income statement."
"In this legislature, I believe we have demonstrated, with facts, our commitment to a very simple principle: that in this country the rights of consumers are respected, no matter how large or powerful the companies involved are," he stressed.
"The conditions are met" to resume the rent extension
In response to journalists' questions, Bustinduy also commented on the extraordinary extension of lease agreements for up to two years, the decree-law of which was rejected in Congress with the votes of PP, Vox, and Junts.
"We said from the beginning that we are going to bring back the extension of rental contracts and we are going to do it. And we are working with total discretion to make it happen," he indicated.
"I believe that the conditions are met for there to be a great agreement on housing and for it to move forward. That is what we are working for, and our determination is absolute in that regard," added the minister, who expressed confidence: "I am confident that we will not take long to be able to bring it back" to the Council of Ministers and, subsequently, to Congress for a vote, he concluded.