Finding a place to live is getting harder and more expensive in many parts of the world.
In Spain, the problem has reached a boiling point. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people marched in cities across the country to protest the housing crisis.
They are fed up with rising rents and the lack of affordable homes, writes Digi24.
In Madrid, up to 150,000 people joined the demonstration, according to organizers. Protests also took place in around 40 other cities.
From Málaga to Vigo, people carried signs and shouted slogans. They called out both the property owners and the government.
Many said investors are buying up homes just to make a profit, while everyday people are being priced out.
Valeria Racu from the Madrid tenants’ union said rent strikes may be the next step. She believes this movement could bring change.
Her group says 1.4 million households in Spain now spend over 30% of their income on housing. That’s 200,000 more than ten years ago.
In big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, housing prices have skyrocketed. A major reason is the rise of tourist rentals.
In Madrid, there are at least 15,000 illegal tourist apartments. In Barcelona, the city plans to stop renewing licenses for short-term tourist rentals by 2028.
What started in tourist hotspots like the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands is now a national crisis.
Rallies took place in Seville, Valencia, Santiago de Compostela, and other cities. In Barcelona, protesters filled Plaça d'Espanya.
They want lower rents, longer leases, and an end to housing speculation.
In the Balearic Islands, the average rent for a small apartment is now 1,400 euros per month. That’s more than many local tourism workers earn.
Young people are hit especially hard. A report shows 85% of Spaniards under 30 still live with their parents.
Researcher Jaime Palomera says the rich are using property to get even richer. He believes the government should tax people who own many homes.
He points to Singapore as a country that supports first-time buyers but taxes those who buy more properties.
