Regulation and data
LAU: residential lease or lease for other use
Spain's Urban Leases Act (LAU) separates the residential lease (art. 2), which meets the tenant's housing need —even when only one room is let—, from the lease for a use other than housing (art. 3), which is governed by what the parties agree. In a coliving, that choice decides the contract's whole regime.
Also known asLAU · Spanish Urban Leases Act · Ley 29/1994 de Arrendamientos Urbanos
What tells them apart
Art. 2.1 calls a lease of habitual housing one that concerns a habitable building whose main purpose is to meet the tenant's housing need, "including the partial lease of a room or part of the dwelling". Art. 3 leaves for other uses the contracts with a different main purpose —commercial, professional, teaching activity…— and in every case excludes those whose object is the lodging or accommodation of people.
| Habitual housing (art. 2.1) | Temporary housing (art. 2.3) | Other use (art. 3) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When | The tenant lives there | They are away from their habitual home for a justified cause that can be proven | Another main purpose: commercial, professional, teaching activity |
| Duration | Compulsory extension up to five years, or seven if the landlord is a legal person (art. 9.1) | More than thirty-one days and, as a general rule, no more than twelve months (art. 9 bis) | Whatever is agreed |
| Regime | Title II of the act | Title II, with the duration of art. 9 bis | What is agreed and, failing that, Title III |
Worth knowing
This changed in October 2026. The current wording of arts. 2, 3 and 9 bis comes from Royal Decree-law 29/2026 of 6 October, in force since 8 October according to the BOE's consolidated text; an earlier one with substantially matching content, 26/2026, was repealed by Congress. Fixed-term seasonal leases signed before then remain leases for other use until the agreed term ends, and then expire with no extension (eighth transitional provision). Before signing, it is worth reading the text in force on that day. For coliving and flex living, it is developed in the guide to coliving rules.
Sources
Related terms
- ColivingA coliving is a building of private rooms or studios with a shared kitchen, lounge and work areas, run by an operator with services included and a community life. It is aimed mainly at young professionals and stays of several months. In Spain it has no national law of its own.
- Flex livingFlex living is furnished, serviced accommodation that an operator lets for stays of variable length, from weeks to months, in complete flats or in rooms with shared areas. It sits between coliving, the traditional residential let and the serviced apartment.