Andorra Housing Minister Marsol Defends Rent De-Freezing Law in General Council

Housing Minister Conxita Marsol has defended the new rent de-freezing law before the General Council, telling members that contract extensions will be automatic once it takes effect in January. Government legal advisers have reviewed the text and concluded that leases are extended by operation of law, with no requirement for tenants to state a wish to renew, she said.

The debate arose from a Superior Court ruling that requires tenants to have communicated their intention to renew in order to benefit from the extensions provided by Law 24/2023, the housing rental market measure in force until December. Marsol confirmed that the government has identified a second judgment along the same lines, though no individual cases have yet reached the ministry or the National Housing Institute. She encouraged those affected to approach either body.

Answering a question from Pere Baró, the Social Democratic group's acting president, Marsol acknowledged that the drafting of the earlier legislation may have been flawed. "Perhaps we did not do things well enough," she said, noting that the 2023 law was approved unanimously, but stressed that the government cannot challenge judicial decisions.

Baró warned that the court's interpretation could harm families and criticised the executive for offering only existing support mechanisms. "More needs to be done," he said, questioning whether referring affected households to assistance services was an adequate response.

Marsol rejected amending the current law for the time being, pointing out that it expires at the end of the year and that any legislative change would not apply retroactively. She left the door open to intervention if a need were identified: "I think it does not need to be modified, but if a need is seen, we can talk about it."

Any reform would not cover households already affected by the court rulings. Marsol pointed to the public housing stock, rental subsidies and the 30-40 programme as the mechanisms available for handling cases individually.