Landlords are cancelling viewings and asking agents to withdraw rental properties amid uncertainty over Spain’s latest housing measures, leading estate agencies have claimed.

Alfa Inmobiliaria says it has received numerous calls from worried owners, with some requesting the immediate removal of their listings.

Others are delaying decisions about renewing contracts or putting homes on the market while they assess the changes, according to vice-president Jesus Duque.

Speaking to Idealista News, Duque said some landlords were considering selling or switching to seasonal lets.

The warnings follow the government’s renewed approval of two housing decrees after earlier versions were rejected by Congress.

The measures have prompted opposition from property industry representatives, who argue that repeated regulatory changes are making owners reluctant to commit to long-term rentals.

Alfa predicts that rental supply could shrink by between 15% and 25% over the next six to 12 months, with mid-priced homes most exposed.

That is an industry forecast, rather than a confirmed fall in available properties.

Tecnocasa’s research director, Lazaro Cubero, also warned that owners could postpone transactions until the rules become clearer.

The uncertainty is affecting prospective tenants too, according to Alfa.

Some are delaying their searches in the hope of cheaper rents, while others are rushing to secure a home before the choice narrows.

Miguel Angel Gomez Huecas, president of estate agency federation FADEI, called for a longer-term housing strategy focused on increasing supply, speeding up planning procedures and encouraging owners to bring empty homes onto the rental market.

The agencies’ accounts suggest some landlords are already stepping back, although the scale of any nationwide withdrawal remains unclear.