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This article forms part of the CostaLuz Lawyers blog and is published for general informational and educational purposes only. It was prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools and, before publication, was substantively reviewed and editorially approved by Maria de Castro, a Spanish-qualified lawyer registered with the Cádiz Bar Association under number 2745, founder of CostaLuz Lawyers and the person responsible for the editorial review of the published content.
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Are you a tenant in Spain? If so, the next update to your rental rate could be considerably higher than usual because of the recent increases in inflation. This is because inflation in Spain has gone up by the highest amount since 1992. However, the good news is that your landlord does not automatically have the right to put your rent up.
Under Spanish rental law, updates to how much rent you pay depend on the date you signed your rental contract. In this blog post, we look at different scenarios and in each one, ascertain whether your landlord can increase your rent.
Find out what to expect when renting a property in Spain.
Spanish rental contracts signed before June 6, 2013
This date signalled the first reform of Spanish rental law under which the following updates to rental rates apply.
In First 5 years of the contract – your landlord may increase your rental rate by inflation.
From year 6 onwards – you and your landlord must agree on an update, which may be an agreed amount or the rate of inflation.
The update on the rental rate must take place yearly on the date that the contract was signed.
The percentage applied for inflation is the rate over the 12 months immediately prior to that date.
All your landlord needs to do is notify you in writing.
Signing a rental contract with a landlord in Spain? Find out how to avoid abusive clauses.
Spanish rental contracts signed between June 7, 2013 and March 31, 2015
If you signed a contract during this period, your landlord may increase your rental rate by the amount agreed by both parties in the contract. The amount may be inflation.
If this is the case, the amount is the inflation rate in the 12 months immediately before the date the contract was signed.
Spanish rental contracts signed between April 1, 2015 and March 6, 2019
Your landlord may increase your rent if both parties have agreed on this and it is stated in the contract. The update applies annually on the date the contract was signed. If there is no express agreement, your landlord may not increase your rental rate.
Spanish rental contracts signed since March 6, 2019
Your landlord may increase the rental rate if both parties have expressly agreed to in the contract. The update takes place every year on the date the contract was originally signed. If the contract contains no clauses with the agreement to increase the rent, your landlord cannot put it up.
Your landlord must inform you in writing of the update to the rental rate and you must pay it from the month after receiving the notification.
Note that the increase may not exceed the rate of inflation over the 12 months prior to the update.
Questions about your rental contract?
Get in touch with our expert team to find out if your landlord is permitted to increase your rent.
For a complete overview of property law and conveyancing in Spain, see our Buying Property in Spain Complete Legal Guide 2026.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general guidance purposes only and does not constitute personalised tax or legal advice. Each case must be assessed individually according to the client’s specific circumstances. It is essential to consult a qualified specialist before taking any action or making any decision.
Legal Notice: The content on this page is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. No action should be taken based solely on this content without first seeking independent professional legal counsel. Each case requires individual assessment based on its specific circumstances. CostaLuz Lawyers accepts no liability for actions taken or not taken based on this content.
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Good afternoon, I hope you’re well.
We rent a room in an apartment here in Spain. We’re on the contract and the empadronamiento, residents and the ‘lead tenant’ is moving out this summer. We still have a year left on the contract. Our agent (who I don’t believe are legal) have told us we need to pay an extra €600 a month from September when apparently the contract is up. However we still have another year left on our current contract. They used to excuse that the owner will need to sell up or move their family member in which we know isn’t true. The same agent has done this to a number of other locals who I know recently. However they have told him he can do that, and he’s left then alone. This agent now lives back in the UK and I don’t believe he’s legally qualified to do this. I was told not to mention the main tenant leaving to the owner the other day by the agents assistant. I said I assume they will know soon. She said no because they never receive a copy of the contract as it’s only managed between her (‘agents’ assistant) and the English ‘agent’ himself in the UK. We’ve never received rent receipts and I am so worried about the whole situation. My partner is due to have an operation on his spine around September, and has been unable to work for a year. My contract for my job is only seasonal, and I cannot claim Paro due to fault through SEPE which I am appealing next year in court. So, we have no way of paying the 1800€ a month from September, and nowhere else to go. Can you please kindly tell me our rights? We want to continue renting this house and finish our 5 year rental agreement, and then we’re happy to consider a higher price next year, but only the legal amount. €600 is an extortionate increase, and 1800 is more than I earn a month in the summer. I’d really appreciate some feedback. I do not want to hand over any money to the agent once the lead tenant moves out, as I don’t believe they will pay it to the owner and try to say we haven’t paid to get us out of we refuse the obscene increase. I believe that the owner knows nothing about this and the €600 increase is merely being used to top up this agent/assistants pension pot. I look forward to hearing from someone at their earliest convenience. Kind regards, Alex.
If you’re on a valid rental contract and registered (empadronado), your rent cannot be raised by €600 without legal basis—especially if you still have time left on your contract. Agents who are not properly registered or do not provide rent receipts may be acting illegally. You have the right to:
Stay until the contract ends under the agreed terms,
Refuse rent increases that are not in the contract,
Communicate directly with the property owner,
And report abuse to consumer protection or housing authorities.
Get legal advice before making any payments. Don’t let unqualified agents pressure you out.