- Over 15,000 people marched in Madrid; organizers report far higher numbers
- Barcelona protest drew over 100,000 according to organizers
- Protesters demand affordable housing and public rental support
- Spain ranks low in public housing availability among OECD countries
- Youth and working professionals struggle with high rents and stagnant wages
Tens of thousands took to the streets in Madrid, Barcelona, and other Spanish cities on Saturday. They protested the soaring housing costs and limited public rental options. The protests, organized by housing rights groups and supported by major labor unions, highlight growing frustration nationwide.
According to government officials, around 15,000 participated in Madrid. Organizers, however, estimate up to 150,000 joined. In Barcelona, local authorities counted 12,000 protestors. Organizers claimed the number surpassed 100,000.
Demonstrators marched under banners reading, “Housing is a right, not a commodity.”
Unaffordable Living for Spain’s Youth
Spain’s youth face major challenges. Many still live with family or share cramped apartments. Full-time jobs don’t help them save for a home.
Mari Sánchez, a 26-year-old lawyer in Madrid, shared her struggle. “I’m living with four people and still spending 40% of my salary on rent,” she said. “I can’t save. I can’t even buy a car.”
This feeling is common among young professionals. Many, even with stable jobs, feel stuck financially. They want independence but can’t afford it.
Over the past decade, rents in Spain have skyrocketed. According to Idealista, the cost per square meter went from €7.20 to €13. However, wages haven’t kept up with this increase.
This growing gap between income and living costs makes housing unattainable for many. It’s a difficult reality for young adults.
Unemployment in Spain, especially among youth, remains one of the highest in Europe. This makes it even harder for many to move out or live independently.
Public Housing: Scarce and Insufficient
Spain offers limited public housing, with rentals accounting for less than 2% of the housing stock. In contrast, the OECD average is 7%. Countries like France (14%), UK (16%), and Netherlands (34%) provide far more.
This lack of public options forces people into the private market, where foreign investors and rental platforms like Airbnb are blamed for inflating prices.
Last year, Barcelona’s city government pledged to eliminate 10,000 short-term rental permits by 2028 to combat tourist-driven housing pressure.
Protesters Blame Speculation and Tourism
Marchers in Madrid chanted, “Get Airbnb out of our neighborhoods.” They carried signs accusing real estate speculators of pushing residents out.
In Barcelona, a protestor held a sign that read, “I am not leaving, vampire.” The message targeted landlords and hedge funds buying up apartments.
Activists argue that homes are being treated as assets for profit, not as places to live. They see this as a growing issue across the country.
Spain’s left-wing government introduced a rent cap system. It allows regional authorities to control prices based on a national index. However, it has only had limited success, especially in Barcelona.
Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez showed support for protestors on X (formerly Twitter). She stated, “Homes are for living in, not for speculating.”
However, many still believe the measures are insufficient. Housing experts warn that the crisis will continue unless there’s significant policy change.
A Deepening Social Divide
According to Ignasi Martí, head of the Dignified Housing Observatory at Esade business school, “This won’t be the last protest. The crisis is too deep.”
He likened the current protests to those during the 2008–2012 financial crisis, which only ended with economic recovery.
As living costs rise and wages stagnate, many fear a widening gap between those who can afford homes and those who can’t.
Calls for Urgent Reform Grow Louder
Saturday’s protests underline a growing housing emergency in Spain. The crisis affects not just low-income families, but also working professionals and young graduates.
Without major changes to public housing investment, rent control, and urban policy, experts warn that social unrest will likely continue. For now, Spain’s renters are demanding that leaders listen — and act.