Barcelona protesters demand affordable rents as Spain juggles tourism impact
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Over 20,000 people protested in Barcelona, Spain, over rising rents due to gentrification and landlords shifting to more lucrative, short-term tourist rentals.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
BARCELONA - About 22,000 people protested in Barcelona on Nov 23, in the latest demonstration to demand lower housing rental prices and better living conditions.
Housing has become a major issue in Spain as it struggles to balance promoting tourism, a key driver of its economy, and concerns over high rents due to gentrification and landlords shifting to more lucrative, short-term tourist rentals.
The price of rentals signed in the second quarter of 2024 in Barcelona was almost 70 per cent higher than in the same period of 2014, data from the Catalan Housing Agency shows.
"We are spending half our wages in rent... This must stop," said Carme, 28, a spokeswoman for a tenants union.
Smaller protests were held across Catalonia, and in Burgos, Asturias in north Spain and Jerez de la Frontera in the south.
The government announced a crackdown on short-term and seasonal holiday lettings
Demonstrations have been held this year in Madrid, the Canary Islands and Malaga, where seasonal hospitality workers struggle to find accommodation, with many sleeping in caravans or even their cars. REUTERS
