By tf-lawyer.com On October 13th, over 20,000 young people took to the streets of Madrid to protest soaring rent prices. They waved keys symbolizing their demand for change, calling for landlords to lower rents, the resignation of Spain’s housing minister, and urgent government action to protect housing rights.
Organized by the Madrid Tenant Union and nearly 40 other groups, the demonstrators expressed their outrage over the uncontrollable rise in rental costs. The march began at noon, departing from Atocha station, passing through Plaza de Cibeles where the city council is located, and making its way to Gran Vía.
According to government sources, a total of 22,000 participants mobilized for the protest.
The crowd was predominantly young, featuring students in their twenties as well as individuals in their thirties and forties, many accompanied by their parents. They chanted slogans, drummed loudly, and held up signs proclaiming, “Housing is a right, not a business.” Many criticized landlords, banks, and corporations for their exploitation, along with the government’s inaction. They occasionally raised their keys to make noise, expressing their fatigue and anger over the housing crisis.
In recent years, rental prices in Madrid have skyrocketed. Data from the Spanish real estate website Idealista reveals that average rents rose by 15.7% in September compared to the same period last year, reaching a historic high of €20.4 (approximately $22.2) per square meter.
This means that renting a 50-square-meter apartment in Madrid costs around €1,000 a month, which requires the average Spanish worker, earning about €2,200 monthly, to spend nearly half of their salary on rent.
The Spanish newspaper El País reports that as more young people are unable to afford rent, the percentage of 18 to 34-year-olds living with their parents has surged from 50% in 2010 to 66% this year.
Laura, a 36-year-old high school teacher, shared her experience of still living with her parents despite having a stable job. She emphasized that her salary is insufficient to afford rent in Madrid, mentioning that even properties in the suburbs are out of reach, let alone apartments in the city center.
Laura asserted that average monthly rents in Madrid hover around €1,000, while her mother added that just renting a studio costs around €400.
Monica, 22, and Paloma, 21, who live together as students, voiced their frustrations about expensive rents. They argued that the government should not allow wealthy individuals to own up to 30 apartments in central Madrid while young people are forced to share small spaces with three or four roommates.
Valeria Racú, a spokesperson for the Madrid Tenant Union, called for the resignation of housing minister Isabel Rodríguez and urged tenants to withhold rent payments to compel apathetic politicians to take action.
Rodríguez had previously sparked controversy by urging landlords to lower rents through “unity,” a statement that drew criticism from the left-wing coalition Sumar, which labeled it an insult to the public’s intelligence, arguing that rent reduction should be achieved through legal measures.
