Explanation: How rising rent and disappearing homes have created a nationwide protest in Spain | Today news

Massive protests broke out over Spanish cities as citizens claimed action against the deepening of the country’s home. Average rent has almost doubled over the past decade. Protesters cite a lack of public housing, thriving tourism and rising foreign investment as key managers. Tourists walk past a mural painted by artist Roc Blackblock and emphasize the frustrations by the residents, which blame tourism for the worse of housing issues, while residents performed against protations in Spain in Spain in Barcelona, ​​Spain, Reuters/Nacho Doce (Reuers) this Saturday. Rising rent, unaffordable housing and the lack of government action. Protesters say the housing market has been so distorted that even people with full -time jobs cannot afford to rent or buy, especially in major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. How bad is the housing crisis? Average rent in Spain has almost doubled over the past decade – from € 7.2 per square meter in 2014 to € 13 in 2023. House prices rose by 44% in the same period, according to the property website Idealista. Meanwhile, salaries have left far behind. For young people it is almost impossible to live independently. Many people eventually share concise apartments or to stay with their parents to adulthood. What is the fuel of the crisis? A lack of public housing: Only 2% of Spain’s housing stock is public rent, compared to the OECD average of 7%. In contrast, countries such as France (14%), the Netherlands (34%) and the UK (16%) have many more public housing options. Tourism boom: Spain welcomed a record of 94 million tourists in 2024. Many landlords now prefer to rent to tourists via platforms such as Airbnb, where profits are higher than at long -term tenants. Foreign investment: Large investment firms and hedge funds buy entire buildings, especially in large cities, and transform it into tourist rent or short -term leases. Housing deficit: The country builds only about 120,000 new homes a year – much less than the 500,000 homes needed according to the Bank of Spain. The construction levels are still far below the levels of the 2008. How are people affected? People like 26-year-old Mari Sánchez say they spend up to 40% of their salary on rent just to share an apartment. Others, such as 65-year-old Margarita Aizpuru, are evicted as landlords shift to more profitable tourist rentals. The pressure is no longer limited to city centers – it spreads everywhere. What did the government do? Spain’s center-left government has introduced rental control mechanisms in certain regions, such as Barcelona, ​​but experts believe the measures have not made a significant difference. Activists and trade unions believe that more aggressive reforms are needed, such as: expanding public housing regulations on short -term rental rental that urge landlords to offer long -term leases, why is it politically sensitive? The protests cut over party lines. Activists sang “No matter who rules, we must defend housing rights,” which is an indication of frustration with all levels of government. Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez acknowledged the crisis and said that homes should be to ‘live in and not speculate.’ (With AP, Reuters input) first published: 6 Apr 2025, 08:14 IST