Although the royal decree-law on rentals, approved on March 20, 2026, is expected to lapse in the Congress of Deputies in the coming days, it remains in force until then. This decree is built on two main pillars: the extraordinary extension of contracts and a cap on rent increases. Regarding the extension, contracts ending between March 22, 2026, and December 31, 2027, can be extended for two more years if tenants request it.

For this measure to apply, the decree requires the tenant to send a burofax to the landlord. If the burofax is sent before the decree lapses, the tenant will have already secured this extension. Political parties such as Sumar and ERC have encouraged tenants to send this burofax or, at minimum, an email with read confirmation.

In the burofax, it is crucial to clearly state that, “under the protection of Royal Decree-Law 8/2026,” an extraordinary extension of the contract for up to two years is being requested. Most experts affirm that once the burofax is sent, the contract will be automatically renewed under the same conditions, although there is a possibility that landlords or some political parties may challenge this measure in court.

While judges resolve these potential legal disputes, tenants who have sent the burofax may benefit from this additional time before their rental contract expires.