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Following the failure of two housing decrees in the Congreso, Pedro Sánchez has drawn the political conclusion: Spain is to hold a general election on 29 November 2026. For residents and property owners on the Costa Blanca, this development is also relevant because of the unresolved issues surrounding tenancy and housing law.
Spain’s Prime Minister announced the snap general election on Monday morning, 5 October, at La Moncloa. He had previously informed King Felipe VI of his decision.
The immediate trigger was the vote on Friday, 2 October. The Congreso rejected two housing decrees passed by the government just a few days earlier. The PP, Vox and Junts voted against the proposals.
Among other things, the measures are intended to extend tenant protection, regulate tenancy agreements more strictly and increase the supply of affordable housing. The government had only passed the two Real Decreto-ley on 29 September.
At least one of the decrees was subsequently repealed by an explicit resolution of the Congreso; the repeal was published in the BOE on 2 October.
The vote once again highlighted just how dependent the minority government was on shifting majorities in Parliament. Junt’s votes, in particular, proved decisive for numerous proposals.
Following consultations over the weekend, Sánchez decided to call a snap election.
The housing measures rejected by the Congreso are no longer in force. For tenants and property owners on the Costa Blanca, therefore, the previous legal situation remains in force for the time being.
Whether individual measures will be reintroduced after the election depends on the future majorities in the Congreso.
We cover the details of the failed amendments to tenancy law in our in-depth article on Spanish tenancy law.
The election is scheduled for Sunday, 29 November 2026. The statutory election timetable begins with the formal dissolution of the Cortes.
The relevant decree is due to be published in the Spanish Official State Gazette (BOE) on Tuesday 6 October. Under Spanish electoral law, there must be a period of 54 days between publication and the election.
Key dates:
The province of Alicante will also be electing its representatives to the Congreso and the Senado on 29 November.
For residents and property owners on the Costa Blanca, the main issue is what majorities will ultimately emerge in Madrid. Numerous regulations concerning tenancy law, the housing market, taxation and property ownership are decided at national level.
Housing policy, in particular, is likely to play a key role in the election campaign. After all, the failure of the two decrees was the immediate political trigger for Sánchez’s decision to bring the parliamentary term to a premature end.
However, pending any new rulings, the following applies: the amendments to tenancy law that have now failed cannot be treated as the current legal position.
Sources: La Moncloa, Official State Gazette, Congress of Deputies, Europa Press.
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