Spain's housing crisis deepens as prices surge and protests grow

Housing affordability remains a critical issue across Spain. In Barcelona, the mandatory 30 % quota for protected housing has produced only 34 units in eight years, far short of the promised 300 per year, prompting criticism of the city council’s policy.

In Málaga, activists from the group Un Techo por Derecho occupied the Municipal Housing Institute demanding an end to evictions without guaranteed alternative accommodation, highlighting that the city records the highest eviction numbers in Andalusia and that rent consumes about 75 % of a median salary.

The market in Huelva continues to favor sellers, with prices for a median apartment rising 16.3 % year‑on‑year and buyers facing steep entry costs, according to local realtor Jesús Pichardo.

A national editorial notes that Spain’s housing crisis is driven by soaring purchase prices, a severe shortage of supply, and tighter mortgage conditions, with mortgage approvals falling 30 % in the latest quarter.

Seville’s property market saw a 17.1 % year‑on‑year increase in second‑hand home prices, placing the province among the fastest‑rising in the country.

The Spanish government is negotiating a decree to regulate temporary rentals and room‑letting, aiming to align these contracts with the Urban Leases Law and curb price‑inflation tactics in high‑demand areas.