Can the landlord increase my rent in the middle of the year?

No. Rent can only be updated once a year, on the anniversary of the contract, and only after giving the tenant at least 30 days written notice.

What happens if no index is specified in the contract?

If updates are agreed but no index is specified, the Competitiveness Guarantee Index (IGC) applies, which is also capped by law.

Annual rent updates in Spain: IPC limits and the new index

Landlords cannot raise your rent freely or arbitrarily. Annual rent updates are subject to strict limits set by Spanish housing legislation.

General information. Not legal advice.

1. Requirements for updating your rent

Art. 18.1 of the LAU

Your rent can only be updated once a year and only if explicitly agreed in the contract. If the contract does not mention rent updates, the rent remains unchanged throughout the tenancy.

2. The IPC cap and the Housing Law

11th Additional Provision of Law 12/2023

Historically, updates were tied directly to the Spanish IPC (inflation). However, under the 12/2023 Housing Law, updates are temporarily uncoupled from the real IPC and capped at a maximum of 3%.

3. The new rental update index

The law introduced a new specific reference index (IRAV) designed to replace the IPC for rental contracts. Tenants must verify the current official values published by the INE at the time of update.

Frequently asked questions

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