It is more than probable that Royal Decree-Law 8/2026, which came into force on Sunday, March 22, and establishes the extension of rental contracts and the limitation of the annual price update to 2% for those contracts that expire before December 31, 2027, will fail in its validation in Congress, which must occur before April 22. But it will be fully in force until then, therefore, from the Government and the Tenants' Unions, they urge tenants to communicate their intention to avail themselves of said extension to the landlord now.
It is a strange situation, since it is about taking advantage of the effects of a regulation that, with almost total certainty, will not go forward, therefore, doubts multiply among tenants. In Demócrata, with the help of the Madrid Tenants' Union, we explain step by step what you must do to try to shield your rent.
If your contract expires entity March 22 and the day on which it is voted in Congress
Step 1: communicate it
The first thing you must do is inform the landlord that you want to avail yourself of the extension. Something you must carry out in this period that opened on March 22 and that, at most, will last 30 days, which is the time established to submit this type of regulation for validation in the Lower House.
Although it is possible to send this message by the means you deem convenient, the appropriate thing is to do it officially, that is to say, through a burofax.
Step 2: the landlord
After informing the owner, he does not have to answer, but he is obliged to accept it.
If your contract expires after April 22, but before December 31, 2027
Step 1: communicate it
Exactly as if the contract were to expire during the term of validity, you must send a burofax to the owner indicating that, on the expiration date, you want to avail yourself of the extension and, therefore, secure your rental.
Step 2: the landlord
Also the same. Nor can it be denied, nor does it have to respond. As they explain to Demócrata from the Tenants' Union, “the landlord can send as many burofaxes as they want. You have already communicated that you have the right to the extension by the Royal Decree and comply with the law. Neither the landlord's permission nor approval is needed”.