Spain’s housing protests follow rejection of tenant protections
Tens of thousands marched in Madrid and other cities after parliament rejected proposals for automatic lease renewals and limits on evicting vulnerable tenants.
Tens of thousands of people marched in Madrid and other Spanish cities on Saturday, demanding affordable housing after parliament narrowly rejected government measures to strengthen tenant protections.
The Tenants’ Union called demonstrations in more than 50 cities. In Madrid, protesters converged on Plaza de Cibeles, while activists had camped for about a week at Puerta del Sol.
The rejected package included automatic renewal of rental contracts when they expire and restrictions on evicting vulnerable tenants. It also included measures targeting investment firms that buy properties at low prices in pursuit of higher returns.
The demonstrations followed the 23 September eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid flat, where she had lived for around seven decades. The property’s new owners later agreed she could return at a low rent.
Housing costs have been a longstanding concern in Spain. Idealista estimates that rents have almost doubled over the past decade and home asking prices have risen by about 90 per cent.
