Protesters across Spain demand action over housing crisis

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Spain on Saturday to demand sweeping tenant protections following the defeat of emergency housing legislation in parliament. Roughly 50 protests were organised in major urban centres, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, reflecting mounting frustration over surging rents and a deepening shortage of affordable homes.

The protests escalated after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's minority leftist coalition failed on Friday to pass two emergency decree laws in Congress. The proposed measures sought to halt evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030, lengthen expiring rental agreements by two years, hike taxes on holiday rentals, curb acquisitions by investment funds, and introduce automatic lease extensions. Lawmakers voted down the first measure by 178 votes to 172, while the second fell by 184 to 166 after the centre-right Catalan pro-independence party Together for Catalonia joined the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox in opposition.

The legislative defeat has intensified speculation that Sanchez could call snap parliamentary elections ahead of the next scheduled vote in the summer. His government, formed by the Socialist party alongside the junior coalition partner Sumar, lacks a legislative majority and relies on regional parties to pass key laws.

Public outrage peaked in September following the high-profile eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, after she faced an unaffordable rent hike. Although intense backlash subsequently prompted the property owner to allow her back into the apartment under a reduced lease, the incident sparked persistent demonstrations nationwide. Activists have demanded lower rents, a complete halt to evictions, and restrictions barring large investment funds from buying residential real estate.

In Valencia on Saturday, confrontations broke out between demonstrators and law enforcement near an arts centre hosting an industry real estate conference. Local media reported that some protesters dismantled barricades and threw projectiles at police, who responded by firing rubber bullets.

The largest gathering was scheduled for Madrid, where housing activists have maintained an encampment in the central Puerta del Sol plaza for several days. The Madrid Tenants' Union criticised the rejection of the parliamentary decrees, warning that the legislative failure worsens conditions for working-class residents and calling for a general strike.

The unrest occurs against the backdrop of acute structural strains in the Spanish property sector. According to Bank of Spain estimates, the gap between construction and demand has resulted in a shortfall of approximately 700,000 homes. Official figures from the national statistics agency showed home purchase prices rising 12.2% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, while rental portal Idealista recorded an 8.5% rise in rent prices in 2025, driven by tight supply in major hubs such as Barcelona and the capital.