Lorraine Williamson
On Saturday, April 5, thousands of demonstrators gathered in more than 40 cities across Spain to demand sweeping reforms to the country’s housing system.
Organised by tenants’ unions and supported by a wide coalition of social organisations, the protests aimed to highlight what campaigners describe as the growing commodification of housing.
Their slogan — “Let’s put an end to the housing market as a business” — reflects widespread concern over escalating rental prices, displacement of local residents, and the growing dominance of speculative investment in the property sector.
The affordability crisis intensifies
Across Spain, especially in urban centres like Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, and Valencia, the cost of renting has outpaced wages. According to recent data, rents in Málaga have surged by over 70% in the past five years. For many, especially young people and lower-income families, finding stable, affordable housing has become almost impossible.
The proliferation of short-term tourist rentals is worsening the situation. Platforms such as Airbnb offer landlords higher profits, often at the expense of long-term tenants. As a result, traditional rental contracts are disappearing, and available housing stock is shrinking.
A recent survey by Spain’s Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) found that citizens now rank housing as the country’s most pressing issue, ahead of unemployment and inflation.
A system tilted toward investors
Despite rising property values, analysts argue this is not a conventional housing bubble. The problem, they say, is structural. Homes are increasingly seen as investment assets rather than places to live. Investment funds have acquired large volumes of housing, leaving many units vacant while demand remains unmet.
Campaigners claim this model benefits financial institutions while eroding the rights of tenants. Protesters want to shift the balance back toward housing as a basic social need.
Creative tactics ahead of the marches
In the run-up to the April 5 protests, organisers staged symbolic actions to raise awareness. In Madrid, tenant groups renamed metro stations with titles such as Casa del Banco (House of the Bank) and Precariedad (Precarity). These rebranded signs drew attention to rising rents, insecure tenancies, and housing exclusion.
What demonstrators are calling for
The protest movement is not just raising awareness — it is making concrete demands, including:
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A 50% reduction in rental prices, linked to household income
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Expropriation of vacant homes owned by investment funds
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Expansion of social housing
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Regulation of platforms like Airbnb
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Indefinite rental contracts
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A ban on speculative purchases and evictions
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The dismantling of eviction-enabling companies
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The closure of SAREB, Spain’s “bad bank”, to release its housing stock for public use
From big cities to smaller towns
Protests were held in a diverse mix of locations, from Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville to smaller cities such as Gijón, Salamanca, and Burgos. In some areas, demonstrations started in the morning; in others, they took place later in the day.
The breadth of participation shows that Spain’s housing issues extend beyond the major urban hubs.
A political reckoning
The message to policymakers is clear: the housing crisis is no longer a fringe concern. It affects millions. Protesters are demanding that Spain’s leaders rethink housing policy to favour residents, not investors.
As one placard in Valencia read: “Homes are for living in, not for speculating on.”