The Spanish housing market is once again in full swing. This week, the government approved a package of 21 measures to make the housing market more accessible, regulate the rental market, and increase the supply of affordable housing.

For many Belgians and Dutch people living in Spain, owning a second home, or considering buying property here, the question naturally arises: what does this mean for me?

The short answer: not every measure directly affects foreign owners, but some changes are certainly relevant if you rent out your property or plan to do so in the future.

Why is Spain intervening now?

Housing affordability has become an increasingly significant social problem in Spain in recent years. Young Spaniards, in particular, struggle to buy a home or find an affordable rental property.

At the same time, the demand for real estate remains high.

Official figures from the Spanish statistical office INE show that housing prices in the second quarter of 2026 were on average 12.2% higher than a year earlier. For existing homes, the increase was even 12.9%. New-build homes became 7.4% more expensive.

That does not mean that every home in Spain has automatically increased in value by the same percentages. The real estate market varies significantly by region, city, and type of property. However, it does indicate how strong the general market currently is.

What exactly has the Spanish government decided?

On 6 October 2026, the government approved two Royal Decrees with a total of 21 measures .

These focus on four major themes: more affordable housing, creating more homes, more stability for tenants and landlords, and stricter rules regarding certain forms of renting and real estate investments.

One of the most striking measures is a new financing line of 10 billion euros for people who want to buy their first home. Through the so-called TU CASA program, loans of up to 50,000 euros can be offered under certain conditions.

This is primarily intended for people buying their first home in Spain. It is therefore not simply a new subsidy for everyone who wants to purchase a second home on the Costa Blanca.

Especially interesting for those who rent out their home

For foreign owners, another part of the new regulations will likely become much more interesting.

Spain wants to clarify the distinction between regular residential rentals, temporary rentals, and tourist rentals.

For temporary rental contracts, a genuine and demonstrable reason for the temporary nature is required. A temporary rental contract must last longer than 31 days and, in principle, amounts to a maximum of twelve months.

If the same property and the same tenant are subsequently rented out again via successive temporary contracts, there may be consequences. In the case of more than two consecutive contracts between the same parties for the same property, the first contract may be considered a standard residential tenancy agreement under the new rules.

This is important for owners who, for example, rent out their home for a few months a year and then enter into a new temporary contract.

The message is clear: a rental contract of a few months may not simply be used to circumvent the rules of a standard residential lease.

Holiday rentals are also coming back into the picture.

Tourist rentals are also receiving extra attention.

Under the new regulations, a VAT rate of 10% is provided for furnished apartments or homes rented to the same tenant for a maximum of 30 nights, with certain exceptions.

With this, the government aims to treat tourist rentals more as an economic activity for tax purposes.

For owners of an apartment or villa on the Costa Blanca, this primarily means that it is becoming more important to know in advance exactly under which rental regime your property falls.

After all, tourist rentals, temporary rentals, and regular residential rentals are not the same. They each have their own conditions and tax implications.

Does this mean you are no longer allowed to rent out your home?

No.

That is perhaps the most important thing to emphasize.

The new measures do not mean that foreign owners can no longer rent out their homes. However, the regulations are becoming clearly stricter, and more importance is attached to the actual use of a property.

Moreover, the autonomous regions and municipalities in Spain play an important role in the practical regulations surrounding tourist rentals.

Anyone buying a property with rental as part of their plan would therefore do well not to look solely at the purchase price and the potential return.

The question should also be: what am I actually allowed to do with this property?

What does this mean for someone who wants to buy a home today?

Actually, one thing is becoming increasingly important: good advice before you buy.

A few years ago, a buyer could mainly look at location, price, number of bedrooms, and the swimming pool.

Today, other questions are added to that.

Can the property be rented out to tourists? Are there local restrictions? Is a tourist license required? What are the rules of the homeowners' association? What type of rental contract is suitable for the intended use? What are the associated tax implications?

And perhaps even more importantly: does the answer to one of those questions change in the future?

Those are not details you want to discover only after the purchase.

Is this bad news for the Spanish real estate market?

Not necessary.

The Spanish real estate market remains strong. House prices still rose by 12.2% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026.

In addition, Spain remains particularly attractive to international buyers. Especially along the coast, the combination of climate, quality of life, infrastructure, and the Mediterranean outdoor lifestyle remains a major draw.

Moreover, something else often plays a role for Belgians and the Dutch.

For many buyers, a home in Spain is not just an investment. It is a place to live for part of the year, to entertain family and friends, to spend the winter, or eventually to move to Spain permanently.

The value of such a home is therefore not expressed exclusively in euros.

Spain is changing. The dream remains.

The Spanish real estate market is clearly in a new phase.

The government is trying to make the housing market more accessible to the local population, while at the same time introducing stricter rules for certain forms of renting and real estate investments.

For foreign buyers, that means primarily one thing: make sure you are well informed before you decide.

For example, a property perfectly suited as a second home is not automatically the best choice if you also want to rent it out to tourists. And an interesting investment on paper is not necessarily the right property for your personal plans.

The rules are changing. The market is changing. But Spain itself remains attractive.

Fortunately, the sun, the climate, the gastronomy, the space, the outdoors, and that typical Mediterranean lifestyle will not disappear due to a new law.

Buying a home in Spain? Look beyond the bricks and mortar.

At Global Spain, we believe it is important that a purchase not only feels right today, but also still feels right tomorrow.

Whether you dream of an apartment on the Costa Blanca, a villa for the whole family, a new-build home, or an investment: it all starts with knowing exactly what you are buying and what you want to do with it.

Because buying a home in Spain is one thing.

Buying the right home for your plans is something completely different.

Global Spain helps Belgian and Dutch buyers make that choice with knowledge of the local market.