If you are an owner or tenant of a rented home in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, or the Vega Baja, you may have seen that the INE published the September 2026 IRAV on October 14: 2.54%. This is a useful figure for reviewing rent, but it does not mean that all leases can be increased by that percentage this month. The contract’s date and conditions, along with the current regulations, matter as much as the index itself.
What the IRAV measures—and what it does not say about your home
The IRAV is the national reference index for the annual update of certain residential rental contracts. The INE specifies that it applies to contracts signed after May 26, 2023. It is not a measurement of the market price of rentals in Torrevieja, nor is it a recommendation on how much to ask for a particular property.
Additionally, the Article 18 of the Urban Leases Act places the review on the contract’s anniversary and requires an explicit agreement to update the rent. Without such an agreement, there is no automatic increase. It’s also important to check which index was published when the anniversary occurred, rather than choosing the most recent figure without regard to the date.
Why the 2.54% may not be the percentage you should apply
In October 2026, another rule becomes relevant. The final provision six of the Royal Decree-Law 29/2026 sets an extraordinary limit for annual increases in residential leases governed by the Urban Leases Act (LAU) that come due from its entry into force, October 8, 2026, until December 31, 2027. According to its text, if the rent exceeds the maximum applicable limit set by the reference price index system, no increase is allowed. In other cases, the parties may agree to a new amount; if there is no agreement, the increase cannot exceed 2%.
The 2.54% IRAV and that extraordinary limit follow different rules. That is why you should not simply apply the 2.54%, nor assume that the same percentage applies to old leases, seasonal rentals, or any and all homes. Correct application means reviewing the contract, the type of lease, the date of the anniversary, and, when relevant, the property’s reference price. The legal situation may also change after parliamentary scrutiny of the royal decree-law.
A simple check before notifying about the update
- Locate the contract and any annexes: date of signing, date of each anniversary, and the rent update clause.
- Check the index corresponding to the date of the anniversary, not just the latest published figure.
- Review whether the extraordinary limit applies and whether the rent exceeds the maximum reference limit for that specific property.
- Put the calculation, the rule used, and the notification to the other party in writing before changing any payments.
A well-documented calculation makes for an easier conversation between landlord and tenant and helps avoid rushed corrections. If you are also considering selling a rented property, you can read our guide to selling with a tenant. To organize each step of a real estate operation, check how we support sellers or talk to MAYRASA.
Sources and scope: September 2026 IRAV from the INE, Article 18 of the Urban Leases Act and final provision six of Royal Decree-Law 29/2026. General information checked as of October 19, 2026; this does not replace individual legal advice regarding a contract. Check the current regulations before applying any review.
