Lorraine Williamson
Discrimination in Spain’s private rental market is both widespread and rising, according to a new report by Provivienda, a non-profit organisation focused on housing rights. The study shows that 99% of estate agents accepted requests from landlords to apply explicitly discriminatory rental conditions. Since 2020, such practices have increased by 28%.
The European Union and the Spanish government supported the research, and its findings are based on a comprehensive set of real estate testing techniques. These included 600 telephone calls made by both Spanish and foreign nationals responding to the same rental listings, as well as 100 calls to estate agents in Madrid and Barcelona by individuals posing as landlords who stated they wanted to exclude migrant tenants.
The results expose systemic bias within the rental process. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Provivienda highlighted the problem directly: “Are migrant people being discriminated against when accessing a rental? We called 100 real estate agencies to find out. And 99 agreed to apply racist clauses at the request of the property.”
Limited options and forced segregation
The study revealed that Spanish nationals were typically offered up to four rental options. Migrant applicants, by contrast, were given two at most. In many cases, they were steered towards properties in less connected or marginalised areas.
This contributes to growing urban segregation. Migrant communities are increasingly confined to specific districts, separated from wider society by geography and infrastructure. Such patterns limit access to public services and reinforce inequality over time.
Discrimination based on nationality
Agents often relied on stereotypes when responding to applications. Individuals from Africa, Latin America, or Asia were perceived as less suitable tenants, while those from Germany or the Netherlands were considered more reliable and therefore offered better housing options.
Call for reform and stronger oversight
In response, Provivienda is calling for an expansion of social and affordable housing programmes. It recommends that such schemes be managed by non-profit organisations to minimise bias in the selection process. The organisation also urges the introduction of stricter anti-discrimination rules to regulate the real estate sector more effectively.
The goal, Provivienda states, is to ensure a fair housing system in which no one is excluded because of their background, appearance, or country of origin.
Policy response in progress
The Spanish government has begun work on a national social integration plan that puts housing at its core. Officials say the aim is to reduce inequality and guarantee equal access to homes for all residents.
As demand continues to rise and rental prices remain high, campaigners argue that action is urgently needed. Without proper enforcement, the report warns, discrimination in Spain’s rental market will only deepen existing divisions in Spanish society.
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