Spanish Opposition Seeks Faster Evictions for Rent Defaulters: PP Files Bill

Madrid, November 16, 2025 — The People's Party (PP), Spain’s largest opposition force, has submitted a bill to Congress that would allow landlords to bypass mandatory mediation when evicting tenants who fail to pay rent. The proposal aims to streamline judicial procedures but has sparked debate over balancing the rights of property owners and renters.

Under the proposed text, landlords could directly file eviction lawsuits for non-payment or unlawful occupancy after a lease ends, skipping the Medios Alternativos de Solución de Controversias (MASC)—the alternative dispute resolution system introduced in April 2025. The PP argues this is necessary to reduce bureaucracy, as the current process often leads to rejected claims due to unclear criteria, and the average eviction case takes up to nine months. In 2024, 20,558 such rulings were issued—4.5% more than the previous year.

"We are defending the rights of property owners whose interests are being ignored due to excessive tenant protection," PP officials stated.

The bill also proposes exempting debt recovery cases, including utility payments, from MASC requirements and calls on the government to clearly regulate the procedure to prevent delays.

Ruling Socialists (PSOE) have already voiced opposition, emphasizing the importance of mediation for vulnerable groups—low-income families for whom eviction could lead to homelessness. PSOE recently extended a moratorium on evictions for such tenants until the end of 2025 (Real Decreto-ley 1/2025), with compensation available to landlords until January 2026. "Social protection must not be sacrificed for speed," party members said.

Experts note that the PP’s initiative may gain support from right-wing (Vox) and centrist (Junts) parties, but passage will require a parliamentary coalition. If enacted, the law could boost the rental market but risks worsening social inequality.

Source: El Economista, PSOE, PP.