Hundreds of Thousands Protest Across Spain Over Housing Crisis

Demonstrators in 40 cities demand rent reductions, expropriation of vacant properties, and expanded social housing as rents soar and wages stagnate.

Protests on April 5, 2025, saw hundreds of thousands march in 40 Spanish cities, including over 150,000 in Madrid, according to local tenants' unions.
Average rents in Spain have doubled in the past decade, while wages have failed to keep pace, leaving 40% of renters spending around 40% of their income on housing.
Tourism and short-term rentals have exacerbated the crisis, with cities like Barcelona pledging to phase out 10,000 short-term rental permits by 2028.
Spain has one of the lowest public housing rates in Europe, with less than 2% of housing stock available as public rental housing, compared to the OECD average of 7%.
Protesters are calling for systemic reforms, including rent reductions, expropriation of vacant properties, and increased investment in social housing to address the worsening crisis.