Junts and the Partit Popular (PP) have delayed the Catalan parliament's final vote on a law designed to curb speculative home buying, after both parties asked for a legal review. The request pushes the decision back until October and means the proposed restrictions are not in force during the summer housing market.

That matters for buyers, sellers and landlords in areas under housing pressure because, for now, transactions continue under the current rules. The proposed law was intended to limit certain purchases in so-called stressed housing areas, a measure supporters say is needed to reduce investor pressure on supply and prices.

According to the reported parliamentary timetable, the delay stems from a request to the Consell de Garanties Estatutàries, the Catalan advisory body that reviews whether draft laws comply with the Statute of Autonomy and the Spanish Constitution. A request of that kind suspends the legislative process until the council issues its opinion.

What the delay means now

The immediate effect is procedural but also practical: no new limits apply until the parliament can resume the bill and hold a final vote. For households trying to buy in high-demand parts of Catalonia, that means speculative or investor-led purchases targeted by the bill are not yet restricted.

Supporters of the measure argue speculative buying can reduce the stock available to people who want to live in a home themselves, adding pressure to prices in already strained areas. Opponents say the draft raises legal and constitutional problems and risks interfering with property rights.

  • Junts and the PP requested a legal review of the bill.
  • The final parliamentary vote has been postponed until October.
  • Until then, the proposed anti-speculation rules do not apply.

The delay deepens an already sharp dispute over housing policy in Catalonia. Reporting from Demócrata said Junts forced the postponement of the proposal, while separate reporting said the Catalan PP planned to challenge the measure before the Consell de Garanties Estatutàries and, subsequently, the Constitutional Court if it became law.

Other reporting cited property owners and industry critics preparing a legal front against the measure, arguing that it is unconstitutional. Those objections have been reported by La Vanguardia and ARA, but the legal claims remain arguments made by opponents rather than findings by a court.

The request for a legal review postpones the final vote until October, leaving the proposed restrictions on speculative purchases pending.

The bill forms part of a broader debate in Catalonia over how far public authorities should go in the housing market, particularly in municipalities or districts officially considered under stress. Previous reporting in ARA and The Local said the measure was being developed as a response to pressure in those areas, where access to housing has become harder for residents on local incomes.

For now, the next concrete step is the opinion from the Consell de Garanties Estatutàries. After that, the Catalan parliament can decide whether to proceed to a final vote in October.

Reported by Source Text Link, russpain.com, By Agencias, Maite Gutiérrez, Iñaki Pardo Torregrosa, Laura Casserres Capdevila, thelocal.es, Roger Palós, Núria Rius, Andrea Zamorano, Núria Orriols, Mireia Esteve.