The housing crisis fills the streets again: thousands of people demand an urgent reduction in rents

Thousands of people will demonstrate again this Sunday in several Spanish cities to demand urgent measures against the housing crisis and call for an immediate reduction in rental prices. In Madrid, the mobilization has been called by the Sindicato de Inquilinas and started at 12:00 hours from Atocha to go through different streets of the center until ending in the Sevilla area.

The protest, supported by dozens of social associations, unions, and neighborhood groups, is held under the slogan “Housing costs us our lives. Let's lower prices”. The organizers denounce that access to housing has become one of the main social and economic problems of the country, especially for young people and low-wage workers.

Among the main demands of the march are the reduction of rental prices, the recovery of indefinite lease contracts, and an increase in minimum wages and pensions up to 1,500 euros. Furthermore, the conveners demand expanding the public housing stock and adopting measures against large holders and real estate investment funds.

According to data released by the organizers, the rental price in the Comunidad de Madrid has increased by more than 50% in the last five years, standing above 1,500 euros per month on average. They also denounce that many families already allocate more than 70% of their income solely to housing payments.

From the Sindicato de Inquilinas, they maintain that the current situation responds to a model “based on speculation” driven, they affirm, by real estate funds, banks, and large owners. In their opinion, public administrations have for years favored policies that have contributed to straining the rental market and expelling residents from numerous neighborhoods.

The mobilization has also had the support of the main unions. The general secretaries of CCOO and UGT, Unai Sordo and Pepe Álvarez, have participated in the march along with Madrid union representatives. Both organizations warn that access to housing has become one of the main factors of inequality and social exclusion.