Spain’s housing affordability has emerged as a dominant political issue ahead of a general election scheduled for the end of November. The crisis gained heightened visibility following the eviction and subsequent death of an 87-year-old Madrid resident, whose case sparked street demonstrations and the establishment of a protest camp in the capital.
Polling conducted by Spain’s state centre for sociological research indicates substantial public support for government intervention in housing markets, with over 76% of respondents favoring state involvement to guarantee access and nearly 79% supporting housing as a constitutional right. More than 42% of Spanish voters cite housing access as their primary concern, amid data showing rents have increased 80% over the past decade.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s socialist-led administration has proposed emergency housing measures, later redrafted into two decrees after their initial defeat in parliament. The 21-point package includes steps to facilitate home purchases and rentals, expand eviction protections for vulnerable populations, restrict speculative real estate transactions, and offer tax incentives for compliant property owners and tenants. The government previously pledged to construct 184,000 affordable public rental homes and has attempted to address rising prices through rent-cap legislation in certain areas.
Opposition parties have criticized the government’s response as insufficiently timely. The conservative People’s Party, currently leading in polls, argues that Sánchez has been ineffective during his tenure since 2018 and pledges to construct 200,000 homes annually if elected. The PP, alongside far-right and Catalan pro-independence parties, voted against the initial measures. A general strike focused on housing has been scheduled for later this month, intensifying pressure on policymakers to address affordability concerns before voters head to the polls.
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