Spain's Housing Crisis: Thousands Take to the Streets in Madrid

On February 9, 2025, the streets of Madrid were filled with the voices of thousands of protesters demanding action against the escalating housing crisis in Spain. This latest demonstration is part of a wave of protests that have been sweeping across the country, highlighting the dire situation faced by many Spaniards and expats alike.

A Nationwide Crisis

The housing crisis in Spain has been intensifying over the past few years, with house prices more than doubling in some areas over the last 15 years. This surge, coupled with the proliferation of short-term tourist rentals, has made affordable housing nearly unattainable for many. In Madrid, the epicenter of this crisis, over 20,000 people took to the streets in late 2024, chanting slogans and holding signs that reflected their desperation, such as "Your Airbnb was my home."

Protests and Demands

The February 9 protest in Madrid was organized by various housing rights groups and tenant unions, including the Madrid Tenants Association. Alicia del Rio, a spokesperson for the association, emphasized the urgency of the situation: "The price just keeps going up higher and higher, so we cannot pay our rent or we have to give so much money to our landlord that we don't have enough money to live." The protesters demanded a 50% reduction in rents, indefinite contracts, and effective anti-speculation measures to curb the rising costs.

Government Response and Controversy

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government has proposed several measures to address the crisis, including a 100% tax on property purchases by non-EU residents, the creation of a public housing company, and restrictions on non-EU foreign-property purchases. However, these proposals have been met with skepticism and opposition from various quarters. Regional governments, particularly those led by the conservative Partido Popular, have voiced strong opposition to these measures, arguing that they would harm the tourism industry, which is crucial for many regions, including Valencia and the Canary Islands[1][4][5].

Tenant Unions and Rent Strikes

The failure of the current Housing Law to effectively reduce rents has led to increased activism from tenant unions. Valeria Racu of the Madrid Tenants’ Union highlighted the struggle: "Millions of people survive with €300 or €400 per month after having paid the rent. We don’t only work for our bosses, we work for the rentiers, and that’s unbearable." The union has begun campaigning for rent strikes, a tactic that has sparked public debate and fears among landlords, who estimate significant financial losses if such strikes were to occur on a large scale[2].

Public Support and Future Actions

The protests in Madrid and other cities, such as Barcelona and Valencia, have shown the widespread support for change. The Catalan Tenants’ Union organized a massive protest in November 2024, with over 120,000 people marching in Barcelona. Similar demonstrations have underscored the strength of the tenant movement and the need for immediate and effective solutions to the housing crisis[2][3].

As the situation continues to escalate, it remains to be seen whether the government's proposed measures will be enough to alleviate the suffering of those affected. For now, the streets of Madrid and other cities will likely continue to be filled with the voices of those demanding a fundamental right: a roof over their heads.