Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of July 22, 2026, from the Under-Secretariat, publishing the Agreement between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda and the CIS for the "Housing Barometer 2026" |
|---|---|
| Publication | August 1, 2026 |
| Entry into force | August 1, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Citizens, researchers, public administrations and real estate sector |
| Category | Real Estate |
| Year | 2026 |
| Sample | 6,000 citizens over 18 years old |
| Scope | National and by autonomous community |
| Method | Telephone survey |
| Public data | CIS Data Bank |
The Spanish real estate market will have a new official thermometer in 2026. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda has signed an agreement with the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) to develop the Housing Barometer 2026, published in the BOE on August 1, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-16808). It is not an academic study: it is the empirical basis on which the Government will make public policy decisions on housing.
For the real estate sector, developers, investment funds and tourist rental platforms, this barometer is not a bureaucratic formality. It is a signal that the Government is measuring public opinion on issues that could lead to new regulations.
What does this regulation establish?
The Resolution formalizes the agreement between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda and the CIS to design and execute the Housing Barometer 2026. The division of responsibilities between both institutions is as follows:
| Organization | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| CIS (Center for Sociological Research) | Technical direction of the study, sample design and fieldwork |
| Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda | Identification of information needs and dissemination of results |
The topics that the barometer will analyze are the following:
- Demand for housing in ownership
- Demand for housing in rental
- Assessment of public policies on housing
- Accessibility to the housing market
- Tourist housing
- Foreign investment in housing
The methodology is a telephone survey of 6,000 citizens over 18 years old, with representation at both national level and by autonomous community. The cost of the agreement is authorized by the Ministry of Finance. The resulting data will be publicly accessible through the CIS Data Bank.
The stated purpose of the study is twofold: to guide public housing policies and to evaluate compliance with the constitutional right to adequate housing.
Economic and operational impact
This barometer does not generate direct obligations or immediate costs for companies or individuals. However, its operational and strategic impact is relevant for three reasons:
- Regulatory signal: The Government measures public perception on tourist housing and foreign investment. Historically, this type of study precedes regulatory changes. Sector companies should interpret this barometer as an early indicator of possible regulations.
- Public and free data: The results will be available in the CIS Data Bank at no cost. Developers, consultancies and investment funds can use them to support investment decisions, project location or product strategies.
- Regional coverage: By having representation by autonomous community, the barometer will allow identifying territorial differences in accessibility and demand, which can influence decisions on expansion or disinvestment by regional markets.
Who does it affect?
- Developers and builders: Data on demand for owner-occupied housing and accessibility can anticipate market trends and guide product decisions.
- Real estate investment funds and REITs: Measurement of public perception on foreign investment can anticipate regulatory restrictions.
- Tourist housing platforms and operators: The barometer specifically analyzes tourist housing, a sector under increasing regulatory pressure.
- Real estate agencies and rental portals: Data on rental demand and accessibility are directly relevant to their activity.
- Public administrations and municipalities: They will have data broken down by autonomous community to support local policies.
- Researchers, consultancies and think tanks: Free access to microdata through the CIS Data Bank.
- Citizens: Potential participants in the telephone survey (sample of 6,000 over 18 years old).
Practical example
A tourist apartment management platform operates in five autonomous communities. The Housing Barometer 2026 includes a specific module on tourist housing with representation by autonomous community.
When the CIS publishes the results in the CIS Data Bank, the platform will be able to consult for free what percentage of citizens in each community believes that tourist housing harms access to residential housing, and how they assess public policies in this regard.
If the data shows high negative perception in, for example, Catalonia or the Balearic Islands, the platform can anticipate that those communities will face more political pressure to regulate or limit tourist licenses, and adjust its investment strategy or territorial diversification before the regulation arrives.
What should companies do now?
- Mark the publication of results on your calendar: The data from the Housing Barometer 2026 will be published in the CIS Data Bank. Set up an alert to access the microdata as soon as they are available.
- Identify the modules relevant to your business: The study covers six areas (ownership, rental, public policies, accessibility, tourist housing, foreign investment). Determine which ones directly impact your business model.
- Use territorial data for investment decisions: Disaggregation by autonomous community allows comparing regional markets. Use it as input in decisions on expansion, disinvestment or product adjustment.
- Anticipate regulatory risk: If the barometer detects high citizen pressure on tourist housing or foreign investment in your main market, evaluate scenarios of regulatory restriction and prepare contingency plans.
- Participate in the public consultation process: If the Ministry opens consultation periods based on the barometer's results, sector associations and companies can submit comments. Stay informed through the channels of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda.
Frequently asked questions
Where will the results of the Housing Barometer 2026 be published?
The data will be public and accessible through the CIS Data Bank. Any citizen, company or researcher will be able to consult them for free once published.
What specific topics does the Housing Barometer 2026 analyze?
The study covers six areas: demand for owner-occupied housing, demand for rental housing, assessment of public housing policies, accessibility to the market, tourist housing and foreign investment in housing.
How many people participate in the survey and how are they selected?
The sample is 6,000 citizens over 18 years old, selected with national representation and by autonomous community. The methodology is a telephone survey, under the technical direction and sample design of the CIS.
Does it generate direct obligations or costs for real estate sector companies?
No. The Housing Barometer 2026 does not impose direct obligations or costs on companies or individuals. Its impact is indirect: the results will guide public housing policies and can anticipate future regulations on rental, tourist housing or foreign investment.
Who finances the Housing Barometer 2026?
The cost of the agreement is authorized by the Ministry of Finance. The agreement is between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda and the CIS, an autonomous organization that assumes technical direction and fieldwork.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-16808