Barcelona residents take to streets in massive protest against housing shortage

Background

The protest was organized by Barcelona’s Tenants Union, which claimed that over 126,000 people participated. Local police estimated the number of protesters to be around 22,000.

Key Demands

• A 50% drop in rents

• A strike if the situation does not improve

Government Response

The government has implemented measures to address the housing crisis, including a rent cap mechanism that can be applied to areas deemed “highly stressed” by high rental prices. Authorities have also promised to eliminate the city’s 10,000 “tourist apartments” or dwelling with permits for short-term rents by 2028.

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Key Points

• The protesters are demanding a 50% drop in rents and are calling for a strike if the housing situation does not improve.

• The government’s rent cap mechanism has been applied to areas deemed “highly stressed” by high rental prices.

• Authorities in Barcelona have promised to completely eliminate the city’s 10,000 “tourist apartments” or dwelling with permits for short-term rents, by 2028.

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Summary

Tens of thousands of people protested in Barcelona on Saturday, November 23, 2024, to demonstrate against the housing crunch and high cost of renting an apartment in the city. The protesters blocked traffic on main avenues, holding signs that read “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living” and “The people without homes uphold their rights.” They demanded a 50% drop in rents and called for a strike if the situation does not improve.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday night to protest a housing crunch and the high cost of renting an apartment in the city. The protesters blocked traffic on main avenues in the city centre, holding up signs with messages such as “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living” and “The people without homes uphold their rights.”

Demands

The protesters are demanding a 50% drop in rents and are calling for a strike if the housing situation does not improve. The protest’s organisers claimed that over 126,000 took part, while local police put their estimate at around 22,000.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez held a “housing summit” including government officials and real estate developers last month. However, the Barcelona’s Tenants Union boycotted the event, saying it was like calling a summit for curing cancer and inviting tobacco companies to participate.

Previous Protests

The protest in Barcelona came a month after tens of thousands rallied against high rents in Madrid. The government’s most significant measure has been a rent cap mechanism that the central government has offered to regional authorities based on a price index established by the housing ministry. Rent controls can be applied to areas deemed to be “highly stressed” by high rental prices.