Tens of thousands protest soaring rents in Spain’s Barcelona

Protester Samuel Saintot, who has rented the aforesaid flat for 15 years, expressed frustration. “Even with a decent salary, I can’t find thing affordable wrong 30 kilometres of the city,” helium said. Many renters, particularly migrants, conflict arsenic rising rents outpace their earnings.

Spain lags down different European countries successful nationalist housing. (AP photo)

Housing advocates mention short-term tourer rentals arsenic a large operator of the crisis. Barcelona, a large tourer hub, has pledged to destruct its 10,000 licensed tourer apartments by 2028 to curb the interaction connected locals.

Spain besides lags down different European countries successful nationalist housing, with little than 2% of its lodging banal designated arsenic nationalist rental units, compared to the OECD mean of 7%. Activists are urging authorities to summation nationalist lodging availability and enforce stricter rent controls.

Demonstrators airy flares portion protesting. (AP photo)

The Tenants Union of Barcelona, which organised the protest, is advocating for much drastic measures. Spokesperson Carme Arcarazo suggested a imaginable “rent strike” if landlords garbage to little rents. “We tenants indispensable instrumentality power of the situation,” she said.

The lodging situation has placed unit connected Spain’s Socialist-led government. While measures similar rent caps person been introduced, critics reason much decisive enactment is needed to code the increasing discontent among renters nationwide.

(With inputs from AP)