Spaniards protest against high housing prices. “We have to do something about it”

“We have the right to a roof over our heads”, “Everyone should have their own home” – these were among the slogans that accompanied the protesters on the streets of Madrid.

According to the organizers, about 150,000 people, mainly young people, took part in Sunday's demonstration under the slogan “Housing is a right, not a business”. According to the government, there were definitely fewer protesters.

Residents of the Spanish capital are demanding more affordable housing and better living conditions. They want the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs to resign, accusing her of inaction in the face of the crisis.

– We Spaniards cannot live in our cities. We are being driven out of them, and we are not just talking about city centers. We have to do something about it. The government must regulate prices and the housing market, says Blanca Prieto, a protest participant in Madrid.

In September, renting an apartment in Spain cost on average EUR 992, i.e. the equivalent of approximately PLN 4,200. Prices in Madrid were even higher. There, the average rental cost was EUR 1,602 – almost seven thousand zlotys.

According to the Confederation of Spanish Trade Unions, an employee living in the capital spends more than half of his salary on rent.

– We need to adjust wages to the current situation. The minimum wage should increase. Salaries are stagnant and apartment prices are rising, says Diego Guiterrez, a resident of Madrid.

Renting a room instead of the entire apartment is in many cases the only option. The average rental cost is nearly half a thousand euros – almost twice as much as nine years ago. In Spain, the number of young people living with their parents is increasing. This solution is used by over 60 percent of people between 18 and 34 years of age.

– Can't find anything. When you're 33, it's really hard to find a room to rent, says Isabel Manso, a resident of Madrid.

SEE ALSO: “They're pushing us out of the cities.” They have had enough and do not intend to remain silent

High rental costs are fueled by a housing shortage and the fact that many properties are intended for short-term rentals for tourists. Barcelona has a huge problem, visited by over 15.5 million people last year. Residents who had already protested against excessive tourism took to the streets again on October 13. They believe that the international America's Cup regatta taking place off the coast of the city led to a jump in rental prices. Tourists were asked to leave.

– We want a city that puts residents first. A city whose inhabitants do not have to move because they are unable to pay the rent, says Albert Valencia, a resident of Barcelona.

Barcelona has approximately 10,000 apartments for short-term rental. The city authorities have decided that from 2028 there will be none. The owners of the premises will lose their business permits. According to the mayor of Barcelona, ​​due to the massive influx of tourists over the last decade, rental costs in the city have increased by 68 percent.

– Rents are so high that many people sooner or later have to move either to another district or outside the city. Tourist gentrification is progressing, notes Daniel Pardo, a resident of Barcelona.

A few months ago, protests against rising apartment rental prices also took place in the Canary Islands, which are popular among tourists. The problem does not only concern residents. Seasonal employees of the hotel industry also have problems finding accommodation. Many of them sleep in cars and caravans.