Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 on rentals: what changes and where it stands

Where the decree stands

Status as at 9 October 2026: RDL 29/2026 has applied since 8 October 2026 and is awaiting validation by Congress (pendiente de convalidación). Congress has to vote on it within the 30 days following its enactment; if it does not validate it, it is repealed.

Decrees with the same 2 % cap that Congress repealed: RDL 8/2026, which applied from 22-03-2026 until 29 or 30-04-2026; RDL 26/2026, which applied on 01-10-2026 (or until 02-10-2026). An increase on those days is a doubtful case.

Art. 86.2 CE

What changes for tenants

The main changes made by Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, in force since 8 October 2026 and awaiting validation by Congress, with the law behind each point:

• Rent increase: the decree says that, until 31 December 2027 and without a new agreement between the parties, the rent cannot go up by more than 2 % (final provision 6.ª), and that the IRAV applies to all agreements (art. 4.Dos).
• Stressed housing areas: the decree says that, until 31 December 2027, if the rent is above the maximum price limit that applies to it under the system of reference price indices, no increase is allowed. The decree does not say in which cases that limit applies; the law sets it for some new agreements in stressed housing areas (art. 17.7 LAU).
• Agency fees: the decree says that, in agreements signed on or after 8 October 2026, property management and contract formalisation costs cannot be charged to the tenant either directly or indirectly, under any heading or name (art. 20.2 LAU).
• Rent default insurance: the decree says that the tenant cannot be required to take out rent default insurance or any similar cover (art. 36.5 LAU).
• Taxes such as the IBI: the decree says that taxes on the property, such as the IBI, cannot be charged to the tenant, unless it is the tenant who has to pay them (art. 20.1 LAU). The review applies this to agreements signed from that date; for earlier ones, it gives it as information.
• Community fees: the decree says that, in buildings not under the horizontal property regime (propiedad horizontal), community fees cannot be charged to the tenant (art. 20.1 LAU).
• End-of-tenancy document: the decree provides for an end-of-tenancy document signed by both parties; if it is not drawn up or does not record any damage, it is presumed, unless proven otherwise, that the home was handed back in good condition (art. 36.7 LAU).

• How much your rent can go up
• Letting agency fees
• How much deposit you can be asked for
• Charges your landlord can pass on to you
• Return of the deposit

RDL 29/2026

Stressed housing areas, large landlords and extensions

Stressed residential market areas (zonas de mercado tensionado), large landlords (grandes tenedores) and extensions of the agreement have rules of their own that can change what applies to you. They are not calculated here: they depend on where your home is, who your landlord is and the dates of your agreement.

The review asks you about the area and the landlord, and gives you the dates of your agreement.

Laws

• disposición final 6.ª (Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, de 6 de octubre) awaiting validation by Congress (pendiente de convalidación)
• art. 3.Doce, que da nueva redacción al art. 20.2 de la LAU (Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, de 6 de octubre) awaiting validation by Congress (pendiente de convalidación)
• art. 3.Diecisiete, que reforma el art. 36.5 de la LAU (Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, de 6 de octubre) awaiting validation by Congress (pendiente de convalidación)
• art. 3.Doce, que reforma el art. 20.1 de la LAU (Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, de 6 de octubre) awaiting validation by Congress (pendiente de convalidación)
• art. 3.Dieciocho, que añade el art. 36.7 a la LAU (Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, de 6 de octubre) awaiting validation by Congress (pendiente de convalidación)
• disposición final 5.ª (Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, de 6 de octubre) awaiting validation by Congress (pendiente de convalidación)

Frequently asked questions