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LOUD
Cooling downhousingpricesanti-government

Tenants march in Madrid and 50 Spanish cities over rents and evictions

Nationwide · pinned on Madrid, Spain · since Sep 23, 2026

Is it still on?

YESDay 14 and counting, since Sep 23.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
People are protesting the housing crisis, unaffordable rents, and evictions, intensified by the rejection of government housing laws.
What they want
Protesters demand stronger tenant protections, a ban on speculative real estate companies, and have called for a general strike.
What changed
Oct 5: Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap election for November 29 after parliament rejected housing measures.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Approve measures to tackle the housing crisis
  • Implement tighter restrictions on evicting vulnerable tenants
  • Ban speculative investment companies from the real estate market
  • Ensure automatic renewal of rental contracts
  • Call for a general strike

Organised by: Madrid Tenants' Union, Tenants Union, Confederation of Tenants' unions

What authorities say

Parliament rejected two government decrees aimed at addressing the housing crisis on October 2. On October 5, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap election for November 29, stating the need for a broader progressive majority.2367810

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Crowd
70,000
About 70,000 protesters took part in Saturday's demonstration in Madrid, the Spanish government said.34

The full story

Tens of thousands of people protested across Spain on October 3, including in Madrid and 50 other cities, to demand action on the country's housing crisis. The demonstrations were sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid and the subsequent rejection of government housing measures by parliament. Organizers, including the Tenants' Union, called for a general strike and stronger tenant protections. Following the parliamentary defeat and widespread protests, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a snap election for November 29.

Timeline

  1. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap election for November 29, citing the housing crisis and parliamentary defeat.67810

  2. Tens of thousands protested in Madrid and around 50 other Spanish cities, with the Spanish government reporting 70,000 in Madrid.34

  3. Lawmakers rejected two government measures aimed at tackling the housing crisis, leading to further protests outside parliament.2

  4. Several hundred people protested in Madrid and other Spanish cities, calling for parliamentary approval of housing measures.1

  5. An occupation began at Puerta del Sol in central Madrid, which later grew to include over 1,200 tents.6

  6. The eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid apartment triggered public anger and protests.29

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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