Thousands of tenants all over Spain are marching in the streets on Saturday in more than 40 cities. They have one simple message: housing is a right, not a marketable commodity. Supported by tenants’ unions and left-wing collectives, the national march is a call to action due to the widening housing crisis in Spain.
The rallies are under the banner “Let’s End the Housing Business”. The organizers blame the government for commercializing housing as a speculation instrument. The organizers are demanding radical measures — compulsory reduction of rents, expropriation of vacant property, and the expansion of social housing.
“Housing has become a business model,” say organizers. “Investment funds and landlords are making massive profits while people are being evicted, priced out, or forced to live in substandard conditions.” They say exorbitant rents are pushing working-class families into poverty.
Over the past decade, Spain has seen rents double while salaries have only gone up by around 20%. According to property site Idealista, rent increased by 11% in the last year alone. In cities like Barcelona, rental costs have risen by 60% in just five years. Today, nine out of ten tenants in Spain are spending over 40% of their income just to keep a roof over their heads.
The roots of the crisis lie in years of unchecked real estate speculation. Spain has a history of building homes for profit, not for people. Between 2007 and 2024, the number of new homes built annually fell from over 600,000 to just under 100,000. Meanwhile, demand has surged, driven by tourism and immigration. Foreign buyers and tourist rentals have also played a major role in pricing locals out.
Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Mallorca, and Malaga have seen a sharp rise in foreign ownership. Many properties now serve as short-term rentals for tourists instead of long-term homes for residents. In response, Barcelona has announced that by 2028, it will revoke all 10,000 licenses for short-term apartment rentals.
Spain’s Socialist-led government admits that housing has become a “social emergency.” The Housing Ministry says the country needs between 600,000 to one million new homes over the next four years. Only 100,000 were completed in 2024. The ministry also highlights a severe shortage of social housing — currently just 3.4% of the total housing stock, among the lowest in Europe.
To counter the crisis, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has imposed rent caps in “high-tension” zones. These include areas where prices are rising out of control. Early signs show rental prices in parts of Catalonia have dropped by up to 6.4% since the cap was introduced. However, critics say these caps have scared landlords off. Many have pulled properties from the rental market altogether.
Sánchez has also proposed a 100% tax on properties bought by non-EU foreigners. These homes often sit empty and worsen the housing shortage. The conservative opposition claims these measures are too extreme and punish property owners.
Response from the public
But activists say the measures don’t go far enough. Gonzalo Álvarez of the Tenants’ Syndicate argues the problem is not a lack of homes — it’s that homes are being “hijacked.” Many properties sit vacant, owned by investment funds or banks, while people sleep on the streets.
“There is no need to build more,” says Álvarez. “We just need to use the homes we already have.” His group is pushing for mandatory rent reductions and has even threatened a nationwide rent strike. “Governments aren’t setting limits, so we will have to,” he says.
Many protesters say landlords let properties fall into disrepair to drive tenants out. That way, they can raise prices for new tenants or convert units to tourist rentals.
Public anger is growing. Locals are furious about the rise in evictions, homelessness, and unaffordable rents. In cities like the Canary Islands, the Balearics, and mainland urban centers, protests against tourism-driven housing costs have become common.
The Socialist government has pledged to continue building affordable housing and prevent public homes from ending up in private hands. But with construction slowed by land shortages, high costs, and a lack of workers, progress remains slow.
As thousands take to the streets, one thing is clear — housing is now the top concern in Spain. For many, it is not just about rents or mortgages. It’s about dignity, fairness, and the right to live in the cities they call home.
