The JournalInsights · 29 October 2026

Spain's 29 November Election: What It Means for International Property Buyers

Spain will have elections on November 29th. Find out what this means for international property buyers.

Spain's 29 November Election: What It Means for International Property Buyers

Spain goes to the polls on Sunday 29 November, and this time housing is the main event. After Congress voted down the government's housing decrees on 2 October, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap election and approved revised versions of the measures, which now go to Parliament's standing committee while the chamber is dissolved.

If you're an international buyer, you're probably wondering whether the result could change the rules for you. Here's a quick look at where the main parties stand and what it could mean.

Where the main parties stand on housing

PSOE (Socialists, currently in government). Their focus is regulation and public housing: lease extensions for tenants, limits on rent increases, restrictions on large investors and investment funds, and more money for affordable housing.

PP (Partido Popular, centre-right, main opposition). Their focus is supply and tax cuts: freeing up land to build a million homes, lower purchase taxes, mortgage guarantees for young buyers, and repealing the current Housing Law. Leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has also floated zero purchase tax on first homes for under-40s in rural areas.

Vox (right, a possible coalition partner for the PP). They also back tax cuts and more building, but with a "Spaniards first" angle. In late 2025, Vox proposed higher property taxes for foreign buyers to fund tax breaks for Spanish first-time buyers.

Sumar (left, current junior coalition partner). They favour tougher limits still, including restricting companies from buying homes.

What it means for international buyers

  1. Nothing changes on election day. Any new tax or rule needs a new government, then a new law, which takes months. If you're mid-purchase, the rules in force today are the ones that apply.

  2. Foreign buyers aren't the main target. Most of the debate is about rents, supply and large investors. Lifestyle buyers and second-home owners are mostly on the sidelines.

  3. Regional rules matter too. In Catalonia, tourist licences, for example, are decided by the Catalan government, not Madrid, so they won't change just because of this vote.

  4. Keep perspective. These are proposals, not laws. Previous ideas aimed at foreign buyers have stalled for over a year, and any new one would face the same parliamentary arithmetic and possible legal challenges under EU law.

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Planning your own Costa Brava chapter?

Elections come and go, but finding the right home takes time either way. If you'd like to talk through how any of this affects your plans, get in touch and I'll keep you up to date as things develop.

Sources