The housing problem is now demonstrably the most important in the whole of Europe. In countries like Greece, society seems to treat it rather fatalistically. Elsewhere, however, citizens are rising up and demanding solutions now from politicians. The example of the Spanish is typical. The country is struggling to balance between booming tourism, a key driver of its economy, and addressing citizens’ needs for unaffordably high rents as landlords shift to more lucrative, short-term tourist rentals. Reactions intensify.

“Housing is a right, but here renting an apartment for a young person, so that he can become independent, is impossible. The rents exceed the minimum wage for very small and unsafe spaces,” points out the 57-year-old Nuria.

Society organizes and demands

So on Saturday it was Barcelona’s turn. According to the police, at least 22,000 people demonstrated on Saturday in the center of the Catalan capital. The gatherings and marches were dominated by the youth, who seem determined not to give up, as emphasized by Carme, representative of an organization that has been set up for this very reason.

“We spend half our salary on rent. In the last ten years prices have doubled. This means we work 8 hours a day and 4 hours we work only for our owner. This must stop! We tried to convince the politicians to take strict measures and they don’t, that’s why we say today, end. If they don’t lower the rent, we will!”

A city center without residents?

In Barcelona, ​​according to data from the Catalan Housing Agency, the price of rentals in the second quarter of 2024 was almost 70% higher than in the same period in 2014. Ten years ago, the average rent was €668 per month, but it has increased to 1,132 euros by the second quarter of this year.

“The prices are really abusive in the center of Barcelona. You cannot pay them with an employee’s salary. They are driving people out of Barcelona,” stresses Joshua, an IT worker with a relatively good salary.

The situation is literally explosive, but politics seems to be paralyzed. But the protests are not stopping, Similar events and marches have been held in recent months in all the major cities of Spain and especially in the most touristic areas that are affected the most. Perhaps at some point the example of the Spaniards will be followed by other residents of large urban centers, who for now are just watching the rents… fly.