Spain - April 2025

On 5 April, tens of thousands of people marched across 39 cities to protest the soaring cost of housing and the growing difficulty of affording rent or buying a home. Organizers estimated 150,000 participants in Madrid and over 100,000 in Barcelona alone, while local authorities cited lower numbers. The protests were organized by tenants’ unions, neighborhood associations, and other civil society groups to denounce the lack of affordable housing, the sharp rise in property and rental prices, and speculation in the real estate market, especially in urban areas. Protesters called for measures such as rent caps, stronger protections for tenants, and stricter regulations on short-term tourist rentals. Earlier this year, the government unveiled a national housing policy plan ("Plan Estatal de Vivienda") that includes expanding the public housing stock and offering rental subsidies, with a focus on improving access for the most vulnerable populations. 

Sources: El País, Associated Press, Telecinco, RTVE, El Confidencial