Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in 40 cities on Saturday, protesting housing speculation and demanding government intervention to address soaring rents and displacement. Organized by tenants' rights groups and left-leaning organizations, the demonstrations carried the slogan, "Let's End the Housing Business."
"Housing should be a right, not a commodity for speculation," organizers declared. "Investment funds and landlords continue to accumulate profits while thousands face eviction, displacement, or inhumane living conditions."
Media estimates placed turnout at around 150,000 in Madrid, while organizers reported 100,000 protesters in Barcelona. Demonstrators called for forced rent reductions, expropriation of vacant properties, and increased social housing.
Spain’s housing crisis has deepened over the past decade, with rents doubling despite only a 20% rise in wages. Foreign property ownership and tourism have exacerbated the problem, particularly in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia, where locals are increasingly priced out.
In Barcelona, rents have surged 60% in five years, prompting the city to phase out all short-term rental licenses by 2028. Meanwhile, Spain’s central bank reports that 40% of renters now spend over 40% of their income on housing.
The government estimates at least 600,000 new homes are needed to alleviate the crisis, yet only 100,000 were built in 2024. Construction bottlenecks—high costs, limited land, and labor shortages—have slowed progress.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government has introduced rent caps in high-demand areas and proposed a 100% tax on non-EU foreign property purchases to curb speculation. However, these policies face political opposition and are only partially enforced.
In Catalonia, where rent controls were implemented a year ago, prices in "high-tension" zones dropped 3.7%, with Barcelona seeing a 6.4% decline. Yet critics argue more drastic action is needed.
Tenant advocates like Gonzalo Álvarez of the Sindicato de Inquilinas e Inquilinos reject the push for new construction, arguing that existing housing is being "hijacked" by tourist rentals and vacant units held by investment funds. His group is threatening a nationwide rent strike unless the government mandates steep reductions.
"Governments aren’t setting limits," Álvarez said. "So who will? We will have to."
Meanwhile, opponents accuse protesters of radicalism, framing rent strikes as an attack on private property. As housing becomes Spaniards’ top concern, pressure mounts on policymakers to bridge the gap between market realities and public demand for affordable homes.