Demonstrators have vowed to sustain protests in Madrid over Spain’s housing crisis, setting up about 100 tents in the capital’s Puerta del Sol square and demanding stronger protections for tenants and measures to reduce housing costs.
The demonstrations followed a mass rally on Saturday and were sparked by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from the Madrid apartment where she had lived for 70 years.
Abascal, who has been hospitalised since her eviction, urged protesters to remain determined, calling on them to defend their housing rights in a video shared by the Madrid Tenants’ Union.
According to the union, Abascal was forced out after a real estate firm acquired the property and increased her rent by 275 per cent to 2,650 euros.
The protests have intensified pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose government is expected to present a new housing bill on Tuesday.
The proposed measures are expected to include automatic renewal of rental contracts and further restrictions on evictions, although the bill’s passage remains uncertain because Sanchez’s party lacks a parliamentary majority. A similar proposal was defeated earlier this year.
Protesters say the government must prioritise residents over property investors and investment funds, amid growing concerns about housing affordability.
Data from property portal Idealista cited in the report show that Spain’s average rental price per square metre reached 15.10 euros in August, nearly double its level a decade ago. Meanwhile, official figures put the average purchase price at 2,355 euros per square metre, representing an increase of more than 50 per cent over the same period.
The housing crisis has also affected other residents, with protesters citing rising rents and families struggling to maintain independent accommodation.
The Madrid Tenants’ Union has called for open-ended rental contracts instead of the current five-year terms, warning that demonstrations could intensify if the government fails to adopt stronger protections.
Sanchez has urged other political parties to support the proposed legislation as activists and tenants await the government’s announcement.
