4 minutes agoProtesters rally across Spain against housing crisis
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)Hundreds of thousands of people marched into 40 Spanish cities on Saturday to protest the increase in rent prices and lack of affordable housing in a country that enjoys Europe's fastest economic growth, yet suffers from a severe lack of housing that has been exacerbated by tourist flows. Center government [...]
Spain's centre-left government has struggled to find a balance between tourist attractions and migrants to fill job gaps and maintain affordable rents for average citizens, as short-term rents have grown in both big cities and coastal destinations, writes Reuters, broadcast Periscope.
Whatever the government, we have to protect housing rights”, activists shouted while waving key chains in Madrid, where more than 150,000 protesters marched through the capital centre, according to the local tenants' union.
Average Spanish hairs have doubled and housing prices have increased by 44% over the past decade, according to data from the Idealista property website, greatly exceeding wage growth. Meanwhile, the lease offer has been halved since the 2020 pandemic.
Houseowners' associations and experts say current regulations are a discouragement for taking long-term rents, and owners think renting for tourists or foreigners for several days or two months is more profitable and safer.
Spain held a record 94 million tourists in 2017, making it the second most visited country in the world, as well as a influx of thousands of migrants, both of which are expanding a deficit of 500,000 homes, the Bank of Spain said. /Periscope/
