Crusade against real estate agencies that abuse tenants: a second case has been opened
The Spanish government is investigating possible illegal commission charges, as it did with Alquiler Seguro.
BarcelonaThe Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption, and the 2030 Agenda has opened a new disciplinary procedure against a national real estate agency for abusive practices against tenants. Within the investigation into the real estate sector, this is the second time that Consum has filed a case against a company for indications of possible illegal commission charges and forcing tenants to hire unsolicited services.
In a press release, the department headed by Pablo Bustinduy (Sumar) reported on this new procedure, which is part of the investigation opened last October and which led to in a first sanctioning file to a company that provides services to landlords, Alquiler Seguro, for the same abusive practices in March 2025.
According to Consum, the investigation was opened based on complaints from the Madrid Rental Companies Union and consumer associations such as FACUA and OCU and is still ongoing with respect to other companies. The main practices reported are based on infractions such as forcing tenants to pay a commission for the management of the rental, imposing the hiring of an insurance company or the obligation to hire unsolicited services, expenses that tenants should not assume, according to the same law. If these practices are confirmed, the sanctions for the real estate agencies could be serious (up to 100,000 euros) or very serious (up to one million euros).
These actions are in addition to the files opened against rental apartment managers, such as the blocking of more than 65,935 illegal listings on Airbnb. Opening a sanctioning file involves gathering evidence and giving the offender the opportunity to present arguments. These arguments will be taken into account in imposing sanctions, which may include fines and an obligation to cease irregular behavior. "The Ministry headed by Pablo Bustinduy wishes to emphasize that housing is a right and a basic necessity protected by law," the ministry stated in a statement.
Facua is demanding the names of the companies.
Unlike the case opened against Lloguer Segur a few months ago, this time the name of the real estate agency being investigated has not been disclosed. For the consumer association FACUA, which is one of the organizations that denounced the abusive practices now under investigation, this should change. In a press conference on Tuesday, its spokesperson, Rubén Sánchez, asked the ministry for a legal amendment to make the names of the companies being investigated public, with the aim of providing greater transparency for consumers.