Barring a major surprise, Royal Decree-Law 8/2026, which came into force on Sunday, March 22, will not be validated in the Congress of Deputies. That examination will arrive, at most, within 30 days of its approval, that is, next April 22. Until that date, the decree-law, which includes the extension of rental contracts and the limitation of the annual price update to 2%, is fully in force, which is why the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is encouraging tenants to communicate to landlords within these 30 days their intention to avail themselves of the extension, something they can do even if their contract does not expire in this momentary period of validity.
To facilitate the process, from the Department headed by Pablo Bustinduy, they have drafted a burofax template like the one tenants must send to their landlords. Said letter is included as an annex to the letter that, also from Consumer Affairs, they have sent to 13 real estate agencies and investment funds that manage more than 100,000 homes in Spain. Demócrata has had access to both documents.
Letter to 13 real estate agencies and investment funds and burofax
In the letter addressed to the holders, it is explained that the tenant will be able to extraordinarily renew their rental contract once its duration ends for annual periods, and up to a maximum of two additional years, provided that the contract expires between March 22, 2026 and December 31, 2027.
Therefore, they explain, the rule generates a new right of renewal of the term of the rental contract for two years which, upon prior request by the tenant, must be obligatorily accepted by the landlord, maintaining the terms and conditions of the contract in force.
Consumer Affairs has requested from the entities the utmost diligence to ensure the correct application of the measures, as well as the adoption of the necessary internal procedures for their immediate compliance.