11Apr 2025
As Spain grapples with a deepening housing crisis, hundreds of thousands of furious protesters flooded the streets of over 40 cities, demanding action against skyrocketing rents and the unchecked growth of tourist rentals.
From Madrid to Palma de Mallorca, demonstrators decried the displacement of locals by short-term holiday lets, chanting, “Get Airbnb out of our neighborhoods” and calling for immediate housing reforms.
Locals demand action as costs spiral
In Madrid, more than 150,000 demonstrators packed the streets, rattling keychains and chanting, “Get Airbnb out of our neighborhoods.”
The protests, organized by housing advocates and backed by Spain’s major labor unions, sent a clear message: residents have had enough.
“They’re kicking all of us out to make tourist flats,” said Margarita Aizpuru, a 65-year-old from Lavapiés, a neighborhood now dominated by vacation rentals. Nearly 100 families in her building were recently told their leases would not be renewed.
The figures paint a stark picture. Rents have doubled over the past decade, while housing prices have surged 44%.
Salaries haven’t kept up. Meanwhile, available long-term rentals have dropped by half since the pandemic began, making it harder for locals to stay in their communities.
Tourism fuels displacement
Spain welcomed a record 94 million visitors in 2024, making it the second-most visited country in the world. However, as tourist arrivals soar, so do housing problems.
“It cannot be that to live in Madrid you need to share a flat with four others,” said Wendy Davila, 26. Even professionals like her, working full-time, say that the cost of living is unbearable.
In Palma de Mallorca, one of Spain’s top tourist spots, people carried signs reading, “Mallorca is not for sale” and “No houses without people, nor people without houses.” Many accused property owners of favoring tourists over locals, chasing short-term profits at the cost of community stability.
(Image courtesy of Paolo Trabattoni via Pixabay)
Cities respond with policy shifts
Local governments have started to react. Barcelona has pledged to phase out 10,000 short-term rental permits by 2028.
However, many activists said that these measures are too slow and too limited.
“No matter who governs, we must defend housing rights,” protesters shouted in unison. The outcry reflects national frustration with what many see as a systemic failure to protect affordable housing.
Experts argued that outdated regulations incentivize landlords to rent to tourists instead of locals. Short-term leases are not only more profitable, they also involve fewer legal obligations and lower risks.
A crisis with no easy fix
Spain’s housing deficit stands at 500,000 homes, according to the Bank of Spain. Yet only about 120,000 new homes are built each year—a fraction of pre-2008 construction rates.
Younger generations face a grim future. Even those in stable jobs struggle to save.
“I’m living with four people and still, I allocate 40% of my salary to rent. That doesn’t allow me to save, to buy a car, or even live independently,” said Mari Sanchez, a 26-year-old lawyer.
The housing crisis has become a symbol of inequality in one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies. The country has rebounded economically, but many feel left behind as the benefits fail to trickle down to working residents.
(Image courtesy of lecreusois via Pixabay)
Mounting costs, mixed signals for incoming travelers
The backlash against tourism could affect both short- and long-term visitors. With local governments rolling out stricter controls on holiday rentals, travelers may face fewer lodging options and higher prices in cities like Barcelona and Madrid.
Long-term visitors, including students and professionals on extended stays, could struggle to find affordable housing as landlords prioritize short-term bookings.
Migrants seeking to settle in Spain may feel additional pressure. The rising cost of living combined with community resentment toward foreign renters—whether tourists or newcomers—could make integration harder.
These developments come ahead of the European Union’s upcoming launch of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will require non-EU travelers to apply for pre-authorization before entering the Schengen Zone. While ETIAS aims to enhance border security, it may also give governments more flexibility to monitor and limit short-term stays, especially in areas under housing stress.
Added friction to immigration debate
The protests deepen ongoing debates about immigration policy across the EU. Spain’s center-left government has leaned on migration to fill labor shortages, especially in tourism and services.
However, with locals rallying against housing shortages, anti-immigration sentiment may rise in parallel with anti-tourism anger.
In response, EU nations may adopt tighter housing and residency regulations to ease public concerns. Governments could link new immigration quotas to available housing stock, or require landlords to prioritize longer-term tenants over foreign holidaymakers.
As protests continue, immigration reforms may increasingly reflect economic fears, not just border security concerns.
(Image courtesy of Manuel Blasco Martinez via Pixabay)
A nation’s cry echoes through its streets
As record-breaking tourism floods Spain, the voices of its citizens rise louder than ever—demanding homes, not holiday lets. From Madrid to Mallorca, the clatter of rattling keys now symbolizes more than protest; it’s a plea for dignity and stability.
The housing crisis has turned everyday survival into a political battleground, where economic growth masks growing inequality. Without swift reforms, Spain risks becoming a place where even the locals are tourists in their own cities.
What began as a march may well become a movement impossible to ignore.
