New obligations for landlords and property owners in Catalonia

Law 11/2025 consolidates a large part of the measures previously incorporated through Decree-Law 2/2025 and aims to strengthen consumer protection, improve transparency in the rental market, and expand the Administration’s action tools regarding housing. Although some new developments especially affect large property holders, the regulation also introduces relevant changes for private property owners and landlords that are worth knowing.

What changes to temporary rentals?

The law establishes that a rental intended to satisfy a housing need will be considered a lease of a habitual residence, regardless of its duration.

Temporary contracts must be documented to justify the reason for the temporary nature of the contract, whether for work, professional, academic, health reasons or similar circumstances. In addition, this documentation must be deposited together with the corresponding deposit.

The rule also provides that, if the temporary nature cannot be properly proven or if successive temporary contracts are formalized on the same home and with the same tenant, the rental may be subject to the legal regime of habitual residence.

New regulation of room rent

The regulations incorporate specific regulations for room rental contracts.

In areas declared as a stressed residential market, the sum of the income obtained from the individual rental of rooms may not exceed the maximum income applicable to the complete rental of the home.

Likewise, it is necessary to respect the habitability conditions and maximum occupancy limits established by current regulations.

More supervision of the rental market

Law 11/2025 creates the Housing Lease Contracts Supervision Commission, a body responsible for ensuring consumer protection and supervising compliance with rental regulations.

Functions include monitoring digital platforms, real estate portals and other spaces for disseminating housing offers.

In addition, the inspection functions in housing matters are reinforced, expanding the control powers of the Administration.

Changes for large holders

The law expands the scope of application of the Register of Large Home Owners and establishes new communication obligations before the Housing Agency of Catalonia.

Certain cases in which the Generalitat can exercise the rights of trial and retraction in transfer operations of homes located in areas declared to have a stressed residential market are also expanded.

These measures aim to increase the affordable housing stock and strengthen the capacity for public intervention in the residential market.

News in subsidized housing

The regulations also introduce several changes related to publicly subsidized housing (HPO).

Among these are modifications in the validity of the classification of subsidized housing, the maximum sale and rental prices, registration in the Register of Applicants for Officially Protected Housing and certain award procedures.

Likewise, the validity of registration in the Register of Applicants for Officially Protected Housing is extended from one to two years, facilitating the permanence of applicants in the system.

Who does this regulation affect?

The measures mainly affect owners of rental homes, landlords, real estate agencies, developers, asset managers and large holders with activity in Catalonia.

For this reason, it is advisable to review lease agreements and information and registration obligations to adapt to the new legal requirements.

At CINC we help you

Housing regulations are constantly evolving and can generate doubts for both private owners and companies and professionals in the real estate sector.

From CINC’s Advisory Service we can help you review rental contracts, analyze the implications of the new regulations and resolve any queries related to property management and leases to ensure compliance with current legal obligations.