SHA Union Meets Catalan Housing Minister to Challenge Rental Deregulation Bill

Representatives from the Sindicat de l’Habitatge (SHA) met on Tuesday at 7pm with Conxita Marsol, Minister of Presidency, Economy, Work and Housing, to discuss the union’s demands regarding a government bill deregulating rental contracts, currently under parliamentary review.

The ministry arranged the meeting after receiving the SHA’s position paper on the proposal, which seeks to remove controls on leases. Union members viewed the session as an opportunity to push for modifications, noting that the government’s willingness to meet suggested room for incorporating their ideas. They added, however, that officials had provided no agenda, and the SHA itself proposed the key discussion points.

In the talks, the union conveyed citizens’ real concerns and faulted the draft for overlooking core issues raised during an April 5, 2025, demonstration. Members made clear to Marsol that housing should be “dignified, affordable and stable” to protect residents’ rights, and lamented that their earlier suggestions to the executive had been ignored.

The SHA remains sharply critical of the bill and is preparing a large protest on May 16 to amplify public opposition. Representatives hope the meeting will yield concrete solutions by aligning the legislation with their proposals.