Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday, demanding solutions to Spain’s escalating housing crisis and soaring rents. Demonstrators displayed banners with messages like “Fewer apartments for investing, more homes for living” as they marched through the city. Over the past decade, the housing crunch has worsened, particularly in Barcelona and Madrid, with average rents doubling while wages stagnate. A striking 40% of renters in Spain allocate over 40% of their income to housing, a significant leap compared to the EU average of 27%, as highlighted in a Bank of Spain report.
Protester Samuel Saintot, a long-term tenant of 15 years, voiced his exasperation over unaffordable housing, noting difficulties in finding reasonably priced homes within 30 kilometers of the city. Many, particularly migrants, are burdened as rent hikes outpace earnings.
Barcelona, a prominent tourist destination, faces additional strain from short-term tourist rentals. Plans to eliminate the city’s 10,000 licensed tourist apartments by 2028 aim to mitigate their impact on local housing availability.
Spain’s public housing stock is significantly below the OECD average, with less than 2% of the nation’s homes designated as public rental units compared to the OECD standard of 7%. Housing advocates are pushing for increased public housing and stringent rent control measures.
The Tenants Union of Barcelona, the protest organizer, is calling for more robust actions, including a potential “rent strike” if landlords persist with high rents. Spokesperson Carme Arcarazo emphasized the need for tenants to assume control over the housing market situation.
Spain’s Socialist-led government is under mounting pressure as existing measures, such as rent caps, have been deemed insufficient by critics who argue for more comprehensive reforms to appease growing national unrest among renters.
Original Story https://indianexpress.com/article/world/thousands-protest-soaring-rents-spain-barcelona-9686854/
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Publish Date: 2024-11-24 01:34:00
