Rental price index: how to find out the maximum that a landlord can demand for your apartment

The government has introduced a new regulatory measure that is highly anticipated in the economic sector: a rental housing price index. This index will serve as a key indicator in regions with developed infrastructure and high rental prices, as it is intended for use in specific autonomous areas that submit the appropriate request. This new mechanism is primarily aimed at cities like Barcelona and is designed to set a cap on rental property prices, thereby significantly reducing them.

It is interesting to note that, according to the examples provided by the government, price reductions can reach over 800 euros. As noted by a senior official in the ministry, David Lucas, an apartment currently rented on San Crist Street in Barcelona for 1827 euros per month could decrease in price by almost half — to 951 euros.

It is noteworthy that the implementation of the new index depends on the readiness of each autonomous region, and even if they agree to its use, there are certain exceptions in areas with high rental market tension. In particular, all new lease agreements made in such areas and owned by large landlords will be required to apply the new mechanism. Additionally, for tenants whose properties have not been rented out during the last five-year period, the new index will also be applicable regardless of the owner's status.

At the same time, if the rental property belongs to a small owner, the price will remain unchanged and will be regulated by the existing contract, with the possibility of an increase of no more than 3%.

The Ministry of Housing has opened a specialized form for citizens to determine the maximum rental price of their housing that meets the previously mentioned requirements. To do this, the following steps must be taken:

• In the address bar of your browser, paste the link:https://serpavi.mivau.gob.es/.
• Please provide the building address or its cadastral number in the "Housing Search" section.
• Then, on the opened page, fill in the fields: name of the municipality, province, autonomous region, cadastral code, certificate number, indicate whether it pertains to a high-tension zone, and enter the information about the cadastral data.
• It will also be necessary to indicate the availability of an elevator, parking, furniture, a concierge, and other luxury amenities such as a pool, gym, or common areas that residents have access to.

After filling out all the necessary information, the user will gain access to the price table and will be able to download a report with detailed information.

The implementation of this significant measure under the Housing Law is scheduled for March 12, with the provisions concerning tense zones set to come into effect the very next day. Despite disagreements with the authorities in Catalonia, which already have their own rental index, the government insists on a uniform approach for the entire country.

The introduction of this mechanism has sparked active discussions and criticism from several representatives of the real estate market. They believe that this restriction could reduce the number of available rental apartments and lead to price increases. Moreover, some autonomous regions governed by the opposition have expressed their disagreement with the implementation of the new measure. Nevertheless, representatives of the ruling parties PSOE and Sumar previously reached an agreement on defining an index to alleviate the price situation in regions most affected by speculation and the lack of affordable housing.