An estimated 22,000 people marched on the streets of Barcelona on Saturday demanding lower rents.
The rising cost of housing has become a significant problem in Spain, for which tourism is an important source of income.
The accommodation needs of tourists have caused many landlords to transfer their apartments to short-term rentals in the hope of better returns. This has increased the price of long-term rentals because there are fewer apartments available.
According to the Catalan authorities, apartment rents in Barcelona have risen by almost 70 percent in ten years.
– Half of the salary goes to rent… We have to put an end to this, comments the representative of the tenants’ association Carmen news agency Reuters.
Source: Reuters