The introduction of a new reference index for rental price limitations, enacted by the Ministry of Housing, has sparked apprehension within Bizkaia's real estate market. Experts predict that this measure will lead to a decrease in the supply of rental properties, as many owners choose to remove their homes from the market or convert them to sales.

According to industry sources, on the very day the index was published, several property owners requested their homes be withdrawn from the rental market, expressing unwillingness to lease under the new regulations. These owners prefer to sell their properties or opt for temporary rental arrangements, thereby avoiding mandated price controls.

The new index, which the Basque Government estimates affects only 10% of rental contracts, applies exclusively to homes in designated high-tension areas within Bilbao, Barakaldo, and a district of Galdakao. Despite its limited scope, real estate agencies caution that the measure will exacerbate the existing scarcity of housing in a market where thousands already struggle to find suitable accommodation.

Sector specialists have criticized the index for creating disparities among property owners and failing to consider factors such as mortgages or areas undergoing regeneration. Furthermore, they have described the price differences based on the presence of an elevator as "ridiculous." In many neighborhoods of Bilbao, the maximum rental price could be around 1,000 euros, reaching 1,600 euros in Gran Vía and 1,200 euros in Deusto.

In a period of high housing demand, experts believe that this new measure will not help increase supply; rather, it will have the opposite effect. It is anticipated that many owners will choose to sell their properties or switch to temporary rentals instead of long-term leases, further intensifying market pressures.