Spain Housing Crisis Sparks Protests Over Rising Rents

Protesters in Madrid are blaming investment firms, landlords and short-term rental platforms for worsening Spain’s housing crisis. Hundreds have gathered at Puerta del Sol, with young people struggling to afford homes amid rising rents and limited housing availability. Protesters argue that investment funds are driving up rental prices, making decent housing increasingly inaccessible.

Spain’s rental costs have risen by an average of 84% over the past decade, according to property website Idealista. The crisis has also affected retirees and low-income residents, forcing some to move in with relatives. Public anger intensified following the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, whose case became a symbol of housing insecurity. Proposed government measures to address the crisis were rejected by Congress.

However, economists say the shortage of homes relative to demand is a major driver of rising rents, rather than investment funds alone. Spain faces an estimated housing shortfall of around 750,000 homes, while construction has failed to keep pace with the growth in households. Rising building costs, population growth, limited housing supply and stagnant purchasing power continue to deepen the crisis.

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