Protests have erupted once again across Spain as thousands rallied in Madrid and over 30 other cities, demanding action on soaring housing costs, reports Breaking News.
The demonstrations, organised by housing rights groups and supported by major unions, reflect mounting frustration over unaffordable rent and property prices—especially in urban and coastal areas.
Spain’s housing crisis is particularly severe due to a deep-rooted culture of homeownership and a severe lack of public rental housing. The pressure has made it increasingly difficult for young people to move out or build financial independence, reports Breaking News.
“I’m living with four people and still, I allocate 30 or 40% of my salary to rent,” said 26-year-old lawyer Mari Sanchez. “That doesn’t allow me to save. That doesn’t allow me to do anything. It doesn’t even allow me to buy a car,” reports Breaking News.
Average rent across the country has nearly doubled in a decade, rising from €7.20 per square metre in 2014 to €13 in 2023, with even steeper hikes in Madrid and Barcelona. Meanwhile, salaries have stagnated—particularly for younger generations facing persistent unemployment.
Unlike other European countries, Spain has little public rental housing to ease the burden. According to OECD data, public housing makes up less than 2% of Spain’s total housing stock, far below the OECD average of 7%—and much lower than countries like France (14%), the UK (16%), and the Netherlands (34%), reports Breaking News.
Protesters blame rising prices on speculative investment and short-term rentals. Marchers in Madrid carried signs opposing Airbnb and other platforms, chanting: “Get Airbnb out of our neighbourhoods.”
Barcelona’s city council has promised to eliminate all 10,000 short-term rental permits by 2028 to address the issue, reports Breaking News.
At the national level, the government introduced a rent cap mechanism based on a housing ministry index, allowing regional governments to enforce price controls. However, these efforts have done little to quell the ongoing unrest.
“The severity of the housing crisis means this won’t be the last protest,” said Ignasi Martí, head of the Dignified Housing Observatory at Esade business school. “We saw a similar movement during the financial crisis of 2008-2012, and it continued until economic conditions and social tensions improved,” reports Breaking News.
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