Think twice about staying in a rental apartment in Spain

Not just Spain.

Maricarmen Abascal’s apartment:

• The apartment is in the Retiro neighborhood which is one of the most affluent districts in Madrid. https://youtu.be/CXJxt-1Beso?si=ndj_TpMC5noDEsXz
• 70 to 75% of the housing in the district is owner occupied.
• Due to recent legislation has no legal short term-rentals.
• Maricarmen Inherited the rent-controlled contract from her father.
• Maricarmen lived in the rent-controlled apartment since 1956.
• The 92 square meter apartment is rent-controlled at 500€ per month which was a cap enacted by law in 1964.
• The owner claimed to not be able to make repairs or pay the taxes based on 500€ a month so was forced to sell it.
• The area has an average rental rate of 25€ / square meter.
• The new owner offered a rent of 1.350€ which is lower than the rate in the area (92SM x 25€ = 2.300€)
• Maricarmen refused to pay and the building owner began eviction procedures in 2018.
• Three attempts were made to evict Maricarmen, three times the courts prevented the eviction.
• The Spanish Supreme Court ruled that Maricarmen right to rent control had exceeded time limitations of the rent-control legislation in March 2026.
• Maricarmen Abascal was forcibly evicted in September 2026.

Families or groups with limited budgets like staying in apartments because they can be more affordable than staying in multiple hotel rooms. If the apartment is legally available, I don’t see anything wrong with staying in it. I’m not a fan of shaming people for doing perfectly legal things.

Marco, I just posted the facts as they seemed to be missing in most of the articles.

Beyond that Spain is a democracy and they should be permitted to take care of their business based on the situation, the law and their cultural values; without my outside agitation on one side or the other. My role is as you suggested is to obey the law if I should come visit.

In the 60s, Martin Luther King Jr rejected the term “outside agitator” as they applied to him and civil rights leaders who were fighting for basic civil rights like voting, being given equal access to education, government services and jobs despite not being white. There ways to frame this dispute by highlighting some “facts” that make this seem less unfair I suppose.

The notion that so long as it legal then we ought not shame people from doing immoral things seems not to be something our better angels would advocate. It was legal to force a class a people into the back of the bus in the 60s. We really shouldn’t have shamed those that did? Maybe not visitors or travelers. Or maybe we still should.

Evicting an 87 year old who lived in an apartment for decades is legal. I personally take no issue with shaming those who do. As travelers we are not civil rights leaders. This is not our fight I suppose. But I’ve seen enough evidence that airbnbs and the explosive growth in apartment rentals have consequences that I as a traveler may alter how I make my choices in picking lodgings. Many countries and cities have addressed this and I suppose it many cases there is really no moral objection left. In Spain however there still seems to be issues.

I really don’t have the in depth knowledge and experience to sort it all out. But still I’m not anxious to be part of the problem.

Happy travels

I stay in Airbnbs when I travel. As Marco pointed out, cost is the factor. I hate paying over $100 a night for lodging; the less, the better. Hotels also don't include cooking and laundry facilities. What can I say, I am a cheapskate. Am I the problem that an 87-year-old got evicted? Emphatically no. Rather, it is the people and their elected representatives who need to decide how to solve the apparent housing crisis these countries face. Pointing fingers at tourists is a low-hanging fruit. Spray them with water pistols, and you have satiated your outrage. In six years, I have stayed in over sixty Airbnbs from Italy to Norway. Most of them have been in a room in someone's home. Perhaps this is how they earn a little extra income. Obviously, they need it; otherwise, why invite a total stranger in and share their most private spaces? Who am I to judge? A small number of places have been corporate, or homes used exclusively as rentals. Again, the locality decides what's legal and enforces the rules. My conscience is clear, and don't try to shame me; it won't work.

Agree with alomaker's comment.

Personally, we never stay in apartments, since it is always just my wife and self.
When I check for apartments vs. hotel, the hotels are usually in better locations and about the same price. We don't need the extra space and we don't cook on vacation.

My wife picked an airbnb/apartment for a group trip in the past but none recently. We are heading to spain next week-- all hotels and albergues this trip. As traveler we feel it is good to be aware of what is going on in the places we visit; and deciding not to be part of the problem seems the least of the things we can do.

Happy travels

Air travel is the most climate damaging mode of travel by far, yet we still take these unnecessary leisure trips.

The good news is the negative effects can be mitigated and offset by laws, for example green energy can promoted or cars made more fuel efficient or electrified.

The point is, if the lack of housing due to vacation rentals is a problem then they should be reduced by the local municipalities or taxed in such a way to benefit the city.

Placing the blame for the problem squarely on the tourist is a stretch of logic, e,g, “the consequences of your actions”.

To be clear, I don’t see this as black and white. But the “what about airplanes causing climate change” isn’t a logical argument. It’s a whataboutism. And connecting the mass introduction of short-term rentals with increases in rents and housing problems in high tourist cities doesn’t seem like much of a logical stretch.

The argument that anything that is legal makes questioning the ethics or morality improper also is something I find troublesome. I also find the term “outside agitator” troublesome. Read MLK Jr response to this.

Feeling no shame for renting an Airbnb in a tourist city with rent problems and crowding is a personal decision. As I said, not for me. And if look down on folks with don’t share my empathy with the locals, hey, I’m pretty sure they look down at me too for, you know, being unnecessarily smug on a complex issue. What do I know? Not much.

So, hey, happy travels!

And connecting the mass introduction of short-term rentals with increases in rents and housing problems in high tourist cities doesn’t seem like much of a logical stretch.

As far as I can tell, no one above, (including me) made that assertion. Therefore what you have presented is a classic “straw man argument”.

The point is, both air travel and apartment rentals have negative consequences. However, air travel can be taxed and the revenue directed towards green energy initiatives. Apartment rentals can be limited, prohibited entirely or taxed to benefit the local community.

In summary, blaming a tourist staying in an apartment for causing an 87 year old person to be evicted from their home is analogous to blaming the passengers on an airplane for causing climate damage. It is a logical stretch that doesn’t make sense because there is so much more to each situation, and therefore it is in actuality, the exact opposite of a “whataboutism” !!!

Fair points. But I think the post was suggesting housing prices and apartment rentals and their consequences -- like for example an eviction of an old tenant-- are related. That's how I took it. Correlated. Connected. Not absolutely causal. Tourists -- like me-- can vote with their dollars by choosing to stay in hotels and not Airbnbs in stressed cities. Other tourists can say "nah, let's let the locals solve it." Fair point too.

Airbnb, the internet that powers it, tech, silicon valley "move-fast-and-break-things" via "creative destruction" are indeed changing things. Some of it's great for us travelers. Some of it is problems for tourist cities. Spain is wrestling how to deal with it. I personally don't like the idea of locals shooting squirt guns at tourists but on the other hand sign me up as one of those folks who'll avoid short term rentals in stressed markets.

Anyway, I only jumped in this fray 'cause the term "outside agitators" is one I knew well from it checkered history and the notion that we can all do whatever we want guilt free so long as it's legal rubbed me the wrong way. But then I'm hardly an innocent.

Happy travels!

All countries need to consider the impact of over-tourism, and create policies that support their citizens first. People who are not pleased with their nation's processes need to elect politicians who will better respond to their needs.

The story about Maricarmen Abascal is totally heartbreaking, but is happening to people everywhere.
Yes, financial issues have been a challenge throughout time--I just saw the movie The Uprising this past week, about the English peasant revolt in 1381.

Although I do not use rental apartments, I certainly understand their appeal for some travelers, and I also can see how locals want to make money from tourists, not just leave everything to the hotels.

All of this requires wise discussion and fair actions.

Interesting that this got framed as an airbnb issue. They arent legal in the area. I read it as a tenant vs owner rights issue; or maybe the wisdom of rent control issue. Those are the only two issues the tenant raised in court over the 8 years of legal battles to fight higher rent ior eviction.

I guess the reason we see it in the airbnb context has something to do with what we get sold in the media and as an outsider its difficult to understand issues well enough to have a constructive argument.

Many issues here. For me I am not going to stay in an Airbnb where the locals are so heavily against them. It does price out locals and is the reason why NYC and Chicago doesn’t allow them in many areas.

Now from a financial and time stand point I have heard & seen the cleaning fees and the time spent to clean rise a lot over the years. Airbnbs are not the deals they used to be.

I know this isn’t going to change peoples minds that don’t care how disruptive it is for locals but it is how I travel. I love having a front desk. Many times during a trip they help me. I don’t want to cook on vacation. I don’t wash clothes on vacation. People should make their own decisions.

If a city bans short term apartment rentals entirely, it creates a large administrative burden to enforce that rule. And you’re telling people what they can and can’t do with their private property, and you’re also hurting small businesses who set up these Airbnbs or other short term rentals.

And if you ban short term rentals, hotels increase in price, often dramatically, as has happened in NYC. Higher hotel prices deters tourism which hurts the economy. Higher property prices have absolutely helped Spain have one of the best economy in the world in the last few years, even as there are winners and losers.

If you’re asking, who matters more, young people who need jobs or 87 year olds on pensions who can’t afford a market rate apartment? I don’t think it’s simply the case that the 87 year old woman matters more. You need to balance the situation with smart regulation, including building a lot more housing. And I say this as a person with grandparents who lived in NYC public housing for decades, it’s not necessarily your right as a senior citizen to live in a far below market rate apartment in the most expensive real estate in the entire country when you live on a small pension. I’m sympathetic and we should create ways to preserve people’s ability to live in the city where they grew up, but economic reality dictates that sometimes a poor person can’t live in the most expensive neighborhood. That’s not some evil policy necessarily.

In any case, this regulation should be done by the Spanish government and the Spanish voters, not ad hoc by tourists.

Well-written and well reasoned argument, P.

The only thing I can add is that I've spoken to many young Spaniards about this issue (before Maricarmen) and they all seem to blame the short-term rentals AND their politicians AND the influx of immigrants, for their inability to find affordable housing...not just in Madrid but also, obviously in Barcelona.

I don't have nearly enough info to form a cogent response..

I too am against tourists passing ad hoc regulations rather than the Spanish government and Spanish voters. I am also for deciding where and how I will spend my travel dollars and how that aligns with my ethical beliefs. Going to the airport and spain now! Maybe I'll see a bullfight! (Just kidding.)

Happy travels! Buen Camino!

The only thing I can add is that I've spoken to many young Spaniards about this issue (before Maricarmen) and they all seem to blame the short-term rentals AND their politicians AND the influx of immigrants,

Their views shouldnt change as a result of Maricarmen, because her eviction had nothing to do with any of those topics. Well, maybe politicisns ...

Great point Mr. E.

Well, this case is solved, for the moment, as Maricarmen will be allowed to return home, and not have to pay more than 30% of her income on rent for the term of the 8-year new lease..

Here's some good news:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/29/spanish-government-approves-measures-ease-housing-crisis-outcry-eviction

It's heartening to see Spain prioritising people over capital. I hope it comes as a disappointment to those in this thread that would have rather seen her evicted. Get it up ye, as they say in Scotland.

It's a shame it took so long and took international outcry for decisive action. Spain should be a leading the way with these things as a beacon for socialism in Europe. Housing for people, not investment.

Agree. Just as she gets home, the press today is taking about a mother and 11-year old child whose imminent eviction in Zaragoza has been temporarily halted...

There are protests breaking out now in Malaga, Sevilla, Cadiz, Palma, Santiago de Compostela, and Barcelona--and there is a tent encampment of protesters in Madrid's Plaza del Sol.

But none of this matters to travelers like the poster, above, who refuse to pay more than $100USD for lodging that "must" have laundry facilities on site.

It's heartening to see Spain prioritising people over capital.

So the guy that was forced to sell his property (his retirement nest egg) was not a "people"? Interesting. I tend to think of everyone as poeple.

But none of this matters to the travelers (see above) who refuse to
pay more than $100USD for lodging that "must" have laundry facilities
on site.

Still absolutely not at all what the issue was about, but the statment demonstrates why tourists should stay out of this stuff.

So the guy that was forced to sell his property (his retirement nest egg) was not a "people"? Interesting. I tend to think of everyone as poeple.

Of course he was. Houses are a place to live first and foremost though. Me, personally, I'm going to come down on the side of someone who needs somewhere to live over a guy who needs his "nest egg". Like I said, a question of people over capital, even if sometimes that capital does belong to "people". It depends what you deem most important.

No, she wasnt tossed out. She fought higer rent in the courts for 8 years. She had 8 years to find a Plan B. She lost her case in March, she has had since March to find a Plan B. If the rent doesnt cover the cost of taxes and upkeep, then what? Who pays to fix the toilet and who pays that taxes that subsidize her life? But still not one bit of this has anything to do with tourism. It was about a 70 year old controlled rent contract that held the price to a 1964 value. There are very legitimate arguments in the short term rental world but this wasnt one. This just illustrates that well meaning people can have no idea what they are talking about and should let the locals deal with the local situations.

This sort of thing doesnt help yhe cause and that bothers me because there are timrs and places where the issue is real and needs to be solved and this destroys credibility.

And this is not a time and place "where the issue is real??"

Who is forced to sell his "nest egg?' I missed that part. Her apartment is owned by the Urbagestión corporation who specialize in the "acquisition and development of real estate assets."

Yes, I'm complete agreement that it's not really one for the travel forum as I don't think it's been a factor in this instance. Short term rentals for the holiday market are a factor in some of the cities, no doubt, so it's a wider question of all these contributing factors to Spain's housing crisis. It's too broad a subject to go into all the reasons there's so much unrest around housing in Spain at the moment.

At the end of the day, a really old woman was getting kicked out of an apartment that was rent controlled for years because she couldn't afford it anymore. If they cared about humans they should have honoured her rent control. I wish we had rent control in London. Friends of mine have let their flat in Berlin as rent controlled landlords for the last 20 or so years and it's fair for everyone and keeps the investors at bay.

So the guy that was forced to sell his property (his retirement nest egg) was not a "people"? Interesting.

But he got to sell his property at "market rate" to a property management corporation and probably netted multiples of what he originally paid for it given real estate inflation rates over the past 60 years.

Who is forced to sell his "nest egg?' I missed that part. Her
apartment is owned by the Urbagestión corporation who specialize in
the "acquisition and development of real estate assets."

8+ years ago when the taxes and upkeep exceeded the rent because of a 1964 rent cap the individual that owned the property was forced to sell the property. Thats when the corporation stepped in.

But again none of this has anything to do with short term rentals. Its a rent control issue. So get on that band wagon and advocate government ownership of housing for the greater good. That would make sense. In 1947 It was done in the city I live in and it worked out great. /s

So get on that band wagon and advocate government ownership of housing for the greater good.

OK lol

Seriously though, it's better for people to have some protection through legislation from rampant capitalism that isn't in their interest. Social housing mixed with private ownership worked out just fine across a lot of Europe. It's when housing started becoming an investment it all went t*ts up.

Anyway, it does make me think twice about apartment rental in Spain. I've rented urban apartments in Barcelona nine or ten times in the past. Four or five of those times, the same flat in Gracia rented from the same person outside of any 3rd party commercial platforms. It was a while ago so there wasn't the same crisis situation in the market that there is now.

Spain has one of the lowest rates of public/social housing in Europe...something like 2-3% depending on who is giving the quote. Part of the problem.

Thank you to those who are speaking up on the side of locals getting to stay in their homes. Two points I would like to reinforce:

-As David says, just because something is legal does not make it ethical. Cheating on your spouse is totally legal, for example. But I would not call that ethical.

-There are a lot of assumptions here that if locals are unhappy with a situation they can just change it by voting. I don't want short term rentals in my area but I have never been given a vote on this. We can't assume locals have been given a choice and the majority has won.

On another forum, a long-time Madrid local has spoken up about the issue; unsurprisingly, he is very much against short-term rentals for the impact they are having on locals who can no longer afford housing. I'd copy its here but not sure if that is allowed..it's one person's opinion but unlike the rest of us, he is a Madrileño.

Haven't scanned the whole thread, would give me heartburn. But the Elderly Woman is back in her apartment.

https://www.euronews.com/video/2026/09/29/evicted-87-year-old-madrid-pensioner-can-return-home-says-tenants-union

[snip]
An 87-year-old Madrid pensioner who was evicted from her home last week will be able to return following an agreement with the property owner.

I’m not telling people what to do, but I have a first-hand story that I think this man would appreciate being shared:

I took the shuttle from Prague to spend a weekend in Cesky Krumlov. I was staying in a hotel on a main square in town. The shuttle driver left off each of the couples in the van at their apartment or home rentals. As soon as he left off the last couple, he became very talkative, telling me about how those rentals have changed the town so much, including that his family had to move away to another town because of it. He pointed to a place and said, “Even that one is now a rental house for tourists.”

Not quite the same situation as Madrid but there has been some interesting conversations about this in tourist areas of north Wales.
This article is from a few years ago and shows the impact on local communities.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/aug/10/i-wanted-my-children-to-grow-up-here-how-airbnb-is-ruining-local-communities-in-north-wales

I was particularly interested in it because it describes the area my family is from. The house my Taid (Welsh for grandad)was brought up in is now a holiday let, the farm my Nain (Nan) was brought up in is a caravan park.

But the situation isn’t straightforward.

A lot of the short let properties are owned by locals not outsiders. They provide vital income to the people that own them. The regulations and taxes that have been introduced to limit holiday homes has hit some incomes hard. The people that support the holiday home industry, the cleaners, maintenance workers, gardeners, etc have also seen their work opportunities decrease.

So now there are complaints from locals who don’t agree with the policies introduced to try and help local home ownership in the area. Who knows what the answer is?

"Who knows what the answer is?"

Let the local people decide. Including reining it in if it gets too much.

Seriously though, it's better for people to have some protection through legislation from rampant capitalism that isn't in their interest.

GerryM, we are in complete agreement.

My arguments against a lot of the comments are really two:

1) defining the problem and solutions involves decision making on a lot of subjects beyond the obvious. Things only those with a vested interest need to be judging. Every situation and culture is different. How? I cant imagine and that's the point.

2) the true nature of the problem, when a problem exists, is specific to a location. That could be 2 square blocks or the better part of a city. You have to have an intimate understanding of the community to define the problem.

Central planning was tried in communist countries and that didn't work too well. Everyone had a home, but at what cost?

No method is going to be perfect but I put my bet that democracy practiced by those living in the culture and living close to to the problems have the best chance at coming to the best solution.

That doesnt mean I am opposed to discussions of big picture issues.

A lot of the short let properties are owned by locals not outsiders. They provide vital income to the people that own them. The regulations and taxes that have been introduced to limit holiday homes has hit some incomes hard. The people that support the holiday home industry, the cleaners, maintenance workers, gardeners, etc have also seen their work opportunities decrease.

Emma, a perfect example of how good intentions can result in bad outcomes. We have the same adverse situation going on in my district of Budapest. A lot of people have been hurt and no problem solved. Not being a citizen I stand on the sidelines and watch.

Not being a citizen I stand on the sidelines and watch.

Oh? You do now do you?

The afternoon BBC in America News just had a crawl at the bottom of the screen, saying that Spain has now banned evictions until 2030. An Internet search brought up a BBC article from 11 hours ago, to wit:

An evicted elderly disabled woman, who has become symbolic of Spain's housing crisis, will be able to return to her home in Madrid, according to her lawyer.
Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was forcibly removed on a stretcher from her apartment of more than 70 years on 23 September. She was admitted to hospital after the eviction.
Her eviction has led to widespread anger across Spain, which led Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's cabinet to agree on housing relief measures on Tuesday.
Abascal's lawyer, Beatriz Duro, told a press conference there had been "goodwill from both parties" and that she would pay a similar amount of rent under a new contract, averting a significant price hike.
Duro had met the investment company Urbagestión, which owns the apartment, for several hours on Monday, and the agreement they reached still has to be approved by Maricarmen Abascal, as she was unable to take part in the meeting.
She added that Abascal, who is being treated for exhaustion, would sign the deal when she felt better.
Up to 1,000 protesters welcomed the agreement at Madrid's Puerta del Sol, where hundreds of tents have been set up. However, the city's Tenants' Union had called on the government to approve deeper housing reforms "so that there are no more Maricarmens".
The details of the government's new housing agreement are expected to be released on Tuesday. It will need to be approved by parliament.
The tent protest has been criticised by Madrid regional leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who has accused the government of failing to respond in time to Spain's housing shortage and of now coming up with "sectarian" and "deeply ideological" proposals.

It doesn’t say anything about a four-year moratorium on evictions, but at least Maricarmen has a roof over her head at the moment. Jeez, she was carried out on a stretcher when she was being evicted … better than being pulled out by her feet, I guess. But others are (were?) facing a similar eviction situation.

I note that the property owner in the above report is referred to as an “investment company.” Not mom-and-pop, and how invested in the community is that company, I wonder? How is a long-term rental landlord any more entitled to rental income than a short-term rental owner? And does a long-term rental automatically mean that the rents are affordable for locals? I can see arguments on both sides, although as a temporary visitor, an apartment with kitchen, clothes washer, and ideally a dishwasher has provided us helpful lodging, especially when in an ideal sightseeing location.

Particular destinations may have issues to resolve. Maybe tourists have a little more time, in the meantime.

And Plaza Mayor might not be a place to visit while in Madrid at the moment.

This mentions keeping the "Shield" on evictions till 2030. As well as other details.

https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/29/spanish-government-unveils-new-measures-aimed-at-easing-housing-crisis

Sorry I missed this last night.

My arguments against a lot of the comments are really two [...]

That's some interesting theories you have there. It would seem to preclude having an opinion on pretty much any situation that isn't directly in front of your nose. It's quite a useful way of dismissing others' opinions too. You carry on with that!

Central planning was tried in communist countries and that didn't work too well. Everyone had a home, but at what cost?

Yeah, and? lol What's your point caller? Are you saying that any form of social housing or legislation to protect tenants from private landlords is communism? What prompted you to bring that up in this situation?

Disadvantages of such government policy:
https://www.spanishpropertyinsight.com/2026/03/11/expert-explains-the-damage-done-by-rent-controls-and-housing-policy-in-spain/

Social housing is a wonderful thing. I can only speak to the UK context but for years we've had calls to build much more of it- particularly as much of it was sold off after "right to buy" was brought in in the 80s.

Regarding local landlords- what is stopping them from renting long term to local people if short term lets are restricted?

Ultimately, everyone will make their own decision on where they stay on holiday but I firmly believe in treating others as you want to be treated. I would not want my building to be full of short term lets with strangers coming in and out at all hours, nor would I want our local housing stock going to short term holiday lets, or things that local residents use, like large supermarkets, disappearing. Therefore I do not stay in these types of accommodation on holiday. Again, there has been a lot of talk on here about leaving it to democracy to decide but like many things I disagree with I have never been given a vote on this, and we can't assume everyone has.

I haven't used AirBnB, VBRO et al for some time now but when I did the properties that I rented were let by the owners during a period when they themselves were on holiday. The primary reason for renting such properties was because my children were young and it was better for them (and us) to have a bedroom that they could sleep in and were not disturbed by my wife and I who didn't fancy going to bed at 7 pm.

I don't think I would stay in a rental property owned by an organisation that buys up properties for the sole purpose of renting them out for profit in places where there is a real shortage of affordable housing.

That being said I don't subscribe to the "Evil Landlord" mindset either. I have a friend who owns several properties that he rents out to friends (he does so purposefully as he knows that they'll look after the property). He doesn't do this to make money as he rents them below market value, making sure he just covers the mortgages and upkeep. The properties are an investment for his children and his future retirement. The people renting his properties are not in a financial position to buy their own homes so they are grateful that they can rent a decent property at a fair price, it's a situation that benefits both parties.

Now that my children are older I'm happy enough with hotels or purpose built resorts.

Rent Control is a failed policy.

geovagriffith, I hate absolutes so let's just point out that a certain segment has failed to answer the question of what do you do if the rent controlled rent is less than the taxes + repairs.

Its fine to have complaints, but better to have realistic solutions.

what do you do if the rent controlled rent is less than the taxes + repairs.

Write off being a landlord as unprofitable? Maybe that buy to let flat wasn't such a good investment after all

Rent control won't solve a housing crisis, it will actually makes things worse because developers won't build new apartments if they will be prohibited from charging enough to make a decent return. Things look bleak for Madrid, explosive population growth fueled by immigration with no new housing.

Rent control won't solve a housing crisis,

I don't think anyone said it would Marco. I certainly didn't say that. It stops current tenants (like the lady in the OP) from being subject to the vagaries of market forces over basic needs. Housing, alongside healthcare, is considered a basic necessity in many civilised societies.

it will actually makes things worse because developers won't build new apartments if they will be prohibited from charging enough to make a decent return.

In many cities building new in the centre isn't an option. I know in post-war America bulldozing historic cities, especially where the black people and poor people lived, was an option to build infrastructure that turned a profit. It's not feasible in Spain for the most part. There's no room to build new houses in historic centres like Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia. A degree of management that supports people, keeping a roof over their heads rather than profit margins, helps look after scarce housing resources.

Things look bleak for Madrid, explosive population growth fueled by immigration with no new housing.

Spain definitely needs some investment in new public sector housing. It may not be in historic city centres, but it's long overdue. Immigration is just one factor, alongside speculation, the pressures of tourism and that lack of investment in affordable social housing.

Relying just on the free market to look after basic human necessities is a mistake. The little guy is always (usually) going to get f-ed over in the name of profit for a select few. You'd hope that Spain can step it up with so much socialist control at a local and national level.

edited to add: some new reporting on housing in The Guardian today, with reference to the case in the OP.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/30/how-europes-housing-crisis-is-fuelling-a-new-movement