The declaration, signed by the Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda, Denis Itsaso, will enable measures such as limiting rental prices, strengthening tenant protection, regulating the activity of large property owners, and promoting affordable housing. Consequently, price increases in new contracts will be capped, and a reference price index will be applied in specific cases. The option to request extraordinary extensions of existing rental contracts will also be expanded.
Measures will be promoted to channel vacant homes into the rental market, enhance affordable rentals, and mobilize the housing stock. Furthermore, stricter price caps may be applied to large property owners. To be designated as a tensioned area, a municipality must meet at least one of three predefined criteria. In Oñati's case, the increase in property sale prices over the last five years has been significant, reaching 33.80%, which considerably exceeds the average annual CPI in the Basque Country (19.4%) plus three percentage points (22.4%).
This declaration has been approved within the framework of the diagnosis and the 2026-2028 Housing Action Plan presented by the Oñati City Council. The plan aims to increase housing supply, better utilize the existing housing stock, and develop policies to meet citizens' housing needs. The designation as a tensioned area is valid for 3 years and can be extended annually if the motivating reasons persist.
