Thousands of residents of the Spanish capital came out to protest under the motto “ Housing is a right, not a business“ with a request for more affordable housing and rents and for better living conditions in general, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
According to data from the Spanish government, 12,000 people took part in the protest.
„We Spaniards cannot live in our own cities. They force us to leave the cities. The government should regulate prices, regulate housing policy,”, 33-year-old nurse Blanca Prieto told Reuters.
In July, the Spanish government announced measures against short-term and seasonal vacation rentals. It plans to study listings on platforms such as "Airbnb" and “Booking.com” to check if the persons renting out these properties actually have permits to do so.
Spain is trying to find a balance between promoting tourism, which is the main driver of its economy, and solving citizens' problems related to excessively high rents. They are due to changes in the character of some urban areas and the redirection of landlords to more profitable rental housing for tourists, according to Reuters.
During a protest in Barcelona against the sailing competition, protesters accused organizers of the international sporting event of driving up rental prices and attracting more tourists to the overcrowded city.
Residents in the Canary Islands and Málaga have also staged protests this year against the growth of rental housing for tourists. Seasonal hotel and restaurant workers struggle to find housing in these tourist hotspots, with many sleeping in caravans or even their cars.