Under the slogan “Housing is a right, not a trade,” residents gathered in the Spanish capital to demand a reduction in house rents and an improvement in living conditions.
The Spanish government said that 12,000 took to the streets.
Nurse Blanca Brito, 33, said: “The Spaniards are no longer able to live in their cities. They are pushing us out of the cities. The government should (intervene with regulatory measures) for prices and housing.”
In July, the Spanish government announced a strict crackdown on short-term and seasonal holiday rentals. It plans to investigate advertisements on certain electronic platforms to ensure that they have obtained the necessary licenses.
And confront Spain Difficulty in achieving a balance between promoting tourism, which is a major driver of its economy, and addressing citizens’ complaints about rents rising beyond their ability to pay as a result of residential area development activities and landlords shifting to renting to the most profitable tourists.
Another demonstration took place in Barcelona on Sunday, protesting against a yacht race, as protesters blamed this sporting event for the rise in rents after more tourists entered the crowded city.
Residents of the Canary Islands and Malaga organized similar protests this year in opposition to the rise in rental prices due to the arrival of large numbers of tourists.
