Tens of thousands of people protested across Spain on Saturday, calling for greater protections for tenants after the government failed to pass emergency housing legislation. Approximately 50 marches occurred in cities including Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona. A spokesperson for the Valencia Tenants' Union noted significant public discontent, stating, "There is a lot of anger in the streets." Some clashes occurred between protesters and police in Valencia.
The proposed measures by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's leftist coalition government aimed to address public outcry following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman last month due to a rent increase. This incident sparked nationwide protests, with demonstrators demanding lower rents, an end to evictions, and restrictions on investment funds purchasing properties.
Sánchez's coalition, which does not hold a majority in parliament, faced a setback when Congress rejected the proposed housing measures on Friday, raising speculation about the possibility of early general elections.
Photographs from Valencia showed confrontations between protesters and police near the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, where a real estate summit was taking place. Reports indicated that nine police officers were injured, and five individuals were arrested during the protests.
In Madrid, estimates of protest participation varied, with the city's Tenants' Union claiming 500,000 participants, while officials estimated around 70,000. Demonstrators displayed banners with messages such as "There won't be peace for rentism" and "I study to have a future, not to have a tiny apartment." Some protesters camped in Puerta del Sol for several days.
One protester, David, expressed his motivation for participating, stating, "We're not here for pleasure or comfort. We're here out of conviction." Another protester, librarian Marcos Sainz, shared his experience of rising rental costs, noting that he previously paid 900 euros for a two-bedroom flat, while one-bedroom flats now often cost 1,000 euros.
Spanish police reported the arrest of three members of a far-right group attempting to reach the demonstrators in the square, some of whom performed Nazi salutes.
The Madrid Tenants' Union criticized the government's proposed measures as inadequate, stating that the rejection of the legislation worsens the housing crisis affecting the working class. They are calling for a general strike in response to the housing crisis.
The legislation proposed in Congress included two decrees: the first aimed to suspend evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030, extend rental leases expiring before 2028, increase taxes on tourist apartments, and restrict purchases of residential properties by investment funds. The second decree proposed automatic renewal of rental contracts.
Both decrees were rejected in Congress, with the first failing by a vote of 178 to 172 and the second by 184 to 166. The conservative People's Party (PP) and far-right Vox had indicated their opposition to both initiatives, leaving the minority government reliant on support from smaller nationalist parties.
The urgency of the proposed measures stemmed from the social backlash following the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, which led to negotiations for her return to her flat at a lower rent. However, protests have persisted.
The Bank of Spain estimates a shortage of 700,000 homes in the country, based on the gap between demand and new construction. House prices have increased by 12.2% over the past year, according to national statistics, while rental costs rose by 8.5% in 2025, with Madrid experiencing a 9.7% increase. Barcelona and Madrid are reported as the most expensive cities for renting, with prices at €23.80 and €22.70 per square meter, respectively.