Around 22,000 people gathered in Barcelona on Saturday to protest against soaring housing rental prices and to demand better living conditions. The demonstration highlights the growing struggle in Spain to balance tourism’s economic benefits with the negative impact on housing affordability.
According to the Catalan Housing Agency, rental prices in Barcelona have risen nearly 70% from 2014 to the second quarter of 2024. “We are spending half our wages in rent … This must stop!” said Carme, a 28-year-old spokeswoman for a tenants union.
Similar protests were held across Catalonia, as well as in other regions like Burgos, Asturias, and Jerez de la Frontera.
The Spanish government responded earlier this year by announcing measures to regulate short-term holiday lettings. These include plans to investigate platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com to ensure listings have proper licensing.
Protests over housing affordability have also taken place in Madrid, the Canary Islands, and Malaga, where hospitality workers face severe accommodation shortages, forcing some to live in caravans or cars.
