Hundreds of thousands protested on Friday in 40 cities across Spain (150,000 in Madrid, 100,000 in Barcelona) over the country’s housing crisis. [1], [2], [3] The protests, organized by tenants’ assemblies and left-wing groups, blame the crisis on real estate speculation (treating housing as a commodity rather than a social good), foreign ownership, and tourism.
The issue persists despite various measures taken by Spain’s center-left government, including capping rent prices, ending the Golden Visa program, and creating worker housing units. Property owner associations argue that current laws still discourage long-term rentals, with short-term rentals remaining more profitable.
Despite the government’s efforts (such as rent caps and the abolition of the Golden Visa program), the housing crisis continues.
Rents in Spain have doubled over the last decade, with the past two years seeing an average increase of 18%-27% depending on the region. The situation is especially severe in large cities, such as Barcelona, where rents have risen by 60% over the past five years. In response, the city council has decided to gradually phase out all short-term rental licenses by 2028.
The rise in rents is not matched by wage growth, with 40% of renters spending 40% of their income on housing, according to the country’s central bank. Protesters are calling for measures such as a 50% reduction in rents, the renovation and use of 3.8 million vacant homes, and a ban on evictions for vulnerable individuals.
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