Thousands march in Madrid against rising housing prices
Kyiv • UNN
In Madrid, thousands of people are protesting against the rising cost of rent, which has increased by 50% over five years. Participants are demanding a reduction in housing prices.
In Madrid, thousands of people are protesting against rising rents and difficult access to housing. The action, organized by the Tenants' Union, kicks off a wave of protests in other cities and takes place against a backdrop of social instability among young people. This was reported by Euronews, according to UNN.
Details
On Sunday, thousands of people took to the streets in Madrid to protest against the rising cost of housing—both rented and purchased. The march, organized by the Madrid Tenants' Union and supported by other unions and social movements, launched a wave of actions that will take place in more than twenty Spanish cities throughout June.
The demonstration began on Paseo del Prado and proceeded toward Calle de Sevilla, led by a banner reading "Housing is costing us our lives." During the march, participants chanted slogans against skyrocketing prices and spoke about the critical housing situation in the capital, where average rent already exceeds 1,500 euros per month.
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Key demands include the return of open-ended lease agreements, a general reduction in prices, and an increase in the minimum wage and pensions to 1,500 euros. According to the organizers, rent in Madrid has increased by more than 50% over the last five years, forcing people to spend over 70% of their monthly income on housing costs.
Before the start of the march, union spokesperson Alicia del Río stated that the current housing model "is costing us our lives, those of us who want a home to live in," and called for civil disobedience as the only way to change the situation. She also emphasized that "rentierism is a form of accumulation that drives up housing prices and blocks people's life plans."
The protests are taking place against the backdrop of the precarious situation of young people. According to the Spanish Youth Council, a young worker would have to spend about 99% of their net salary to rent a separate home, and the rate of youth living independently fell to 14.5% in 2025, the lowest figure on record. Organizers warn that without structural changes, access to housing will continue to be one of the key drivers of social inequality.