Ada Colau leaves long-term rental due to housing costs

Ada Colau, the former Mayor of Barcelona, has revealed that she was forced to leave the rental apartment she had occupied for over 15 years due to rising costs. Speaking on the RTVE program ‘Cafè d’idees’, Colau explained that following her separation four years ago, she could no longer afford the rent and household expenses for her two children on a single income. She has since moved in with a relative.

Colau used her personal experience to highlight structural issues within the housing market. She argued that the market operates on the assumption that households consist of at least two earners, a model that fails individuals—particularly separated women with children—who must manage housing costs on a single salary.

Her testimony comes amid intense debate in Spain regarding the housing crisis and recent social protests following high-profile evictions. Colau, who currently leads the Sentit Comú Foundation, has advocated for increased regulation and social housing to address the gap between market prices and the actual purchasing power of middle and low-income citizens.