Extension of social aid and housing protections until February 2022

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1. Until February 28, 2022, electricity, natural gas and water supply cannot be cut off for vulnerable consumers, severely vulnerable consumers, or those at risk of social exclusion. To prove this status with gas and water companies, showing the last electricity bill with the bono socialBono social A discount on the electricity bill for certain low-income households in Spain. discount is enough.
2. The right to the electricity bono social for vulnerable groups is extended until February 28, 2022, without prejudice to qualifying for that status before or after that date under other cases provided by law.
3. The suspension of evictions and removals of vulnerable households with no housing alternative is extended until February 28, 2022, including cases of occupying homes owned by large landlords, with specific requirements and exceptions.
4. Rental contracts for a primary residence expiring between the entry into force of this law and February 28, 2022 may be extraordinarily extended for up to six months, under the same terms as the current contract. The option to ask a large landlord or public entity for a deferral or partial waiver of the rent is also extended until that date.
5. Landlords and property owners affected by the suspensions may request financial compensation, and the deadline to apply is extended to March 31, 2022.
6. The status of essential services for protection and assistance to victims of gender violencegender violence Violence a woman suffers from a current or former partner because she is a woman. is extended until February 28, 2022. The law also regulates new benefits for self-employed workers affected by the La Palma volcanic eruption and how to prove business closure due to force majeure.

Who it affects

• Vulnerable consumers of electricity, gas and water: They cannot be cut off from supply until February 28, 2022 and can keep receiving the bono social discount.
• Tenants in economic vulnerability: They can request suspension of their eviction, a six-month rent contract extension, or a rent deferral if the landlord is a large landlord or a public entity.
• Landlords and property owners: They can request financial compensation for the suspensions, applying until March 31, 2022.
• Victims of gender violence: Protection and assistance services for victims remain essential until February 28, 2022.
• Self-employed workers affected by the La Palma eruption: They can access extraordinary benefits for business closure, with their own requirements and deadlines.

Words worth knowing

Bono social

A discount on the electricity bill for certain low-income households in Spain.

Gran tenedor (large landlord)

A person or company owning more than ten urban properties, excluding garages and storage rooms, or more than 1,500 square meters built.

Lanzamiento (removal)

A court action that removes someone from a home, usually after an eviction.

Condonación (waiver)

Full or partial forgiveness of a debt, in this case of rent owed.

Cese de actividad (business closure benefit)

A benefit self-employed workers in Spain receive when they must stop working, similar to unemployment benefits for employees.

gender violence

Violence a woman suffers from a current or former partner because she is a woman.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries