The Government has conveyed a message of “calm” to tenants who requested an extension of their rental contracts before the Congress will overturn the decree this Tuesdayby ensuring that these extensions remain valid. Both the Minister of Social Rights, Pablo Bustinduy, and the Minister of Housing, Isabel Rodríguez, have defended that the effects of the rule are maintained for those who took advantage of it during its validity.
Bustinduy has reiterated that all the extensions requested in that period are “valid and mandatory” and has stressed that the tenants “have the right to this extension.” In this sense, he explained in an interview on RNE reported by Europa Press, that the Constitution is “clear” and establishes that “the repeal of a norm does not imply the annulment of its effects while it has been in force and, therefore, these extensions are fully valid.”
For his part, Rodríguez has agreed with this diagnosis and has stated that the tenants who requested the extension “have been covered” by the temporary validity of the decree, despite its parliamentary rejection.
Legal security and possible judicialization
The Government has recognized that the situation could lead to legal conflicts, although it trusts in judicial support. In this sense, the Minister of Housing has indicated that “if it were to go to court, we would have to litigate, but I understand that the courts are going to be in favor of the right of access to housing for these people, of the philosophy of this norm that emanated from the Government.”
To answer possible questions, the Ministry of Housing has made the free telephone number 047 available to those affected, with the aim of offering advice and support. “We are going to accompany them. They are not alone,” Rodríguez assured.
The Government insists on new housing measures
Both ministers have agreed on the need to continue promoting measures to address the rental situation. Bustinduy has advanced his intention to carry out a new similar initiative “as soon as possible”, although he has admitted that it will depend on the “political will of all the actors”.
For his part, Rodríguez has stated that the Executive will continue working to regulate “the wild rental market and provide the response that people who are trapped in it need today,” and has indicated that there are initiatives being processed in Congress that could allow agreements to be reached on this matter.
Sumar seeks to bring the extension of rents with concessions to Congress again to achieve support
For their part, Sumar assures that they intend to reactivate the housing decree after its rejection in Congress with the votes of PP, Vox and Junts, and are working on a new proposal that includes changes to facilitate its approval. Among the options being considered are tax credits for landlords or measures such as franchised VAT for small self-employed workers, with the aim of attracting the support of Junts.
The minority partner of the Government considers that there is room to negotiate with Carles Puigdemont’s party and trust that an agreement can be reached in a new vote. Along these lines, the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, has assured that the Executive will reissue the decree “as soon as possible” and that they will sit down “with everyone” to move it forward.