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Spain · Survival · Minor · impact 2 of 5
First reported 29 September 2026 · latest 4 October 2026 · 17 reports from 9 outlets
Thousands protested across Spain over the housing crisis after parliament rejected emergency tenant protections. In Valencia, clashes with police left nine officers injured and five people arrested.
Several protesters removed barriers and threw objects at officers, who responded with rubber bullets, Spanish media reported. Public broadcaster RTVE said nine police officers were injured and five people were arrested. Tens of thousands took to the streets of Madrid to protest Tensions arose between some protesters and police officers in Valencia One of the biggest demonstration is happening in the capital, Madrid.
Tens of thousands took to the streets of Madrid to protest Tensions arose between some protesters and police officers in Valencia One of the biggest demonstration is happening in the capital, Madrid. Estimates of the number of participants varied widely, with the city's Tenants' Union putting it at 500,000, while government officials put the figure at 70,000. Demonstrators held banners reading "There won't be peace for rentism" and "I study to have a future, not to have a tiny apartment".
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Sharp rise in rents triggers mass protests, but conservative MPs vote against measures to tackle the crisis. Save Share Tens of thousands of people have rallied across Spain as protests have spread since the conservative-dominated parliament rejected a bill proposing measures to tackle a housing crisis. Parliament on Friday voted down two decrees proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez s minority left-wing coalition government that were intended to address the housing crisis.
While Abascal has returned to her home, according to her representatives, she has become the face of the country s housing crisis, and people across Spain have been demanding the government address the issue. Angered by parliament s rejection of the government measures, tens of thousands of people took to the streets. It s a shame, Nando de Anguulo, 26, who joined Saturday s protest in Madrid, told the Reuters news agency.
While the protests were mostly peaceful, in the southeastern city of Valencia, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up demonstrations. About 30 protesters managed to get inside the City of Arts and Sciences, a landmark cultural building, before police removed them. Meanwhile, in Madrid, Spanish police arrested three members of a far-right group and fired rubber bullets on Saturday night.
Police fire tear gas as housing protests sweep Spain (VIDEOS). Tens of thousands of people have demonstrated across Spain to demand affordable rent and stronger protections for tenants amid a deepening housing crisis. Average rent has almost doubled over the past decade, according to property website Idealista.
On Friday, parliament narrowly rejected two emergency housing decrees proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez s government. Around 70,000 people marched through the streets of Madrid on Saturday to denounce the decision, according to the authorities, while organizers put the figure at half a million. Similar demonstrations took place across around 50 Spanish cities.
In the eastern city of Valencia, demonstrators clashed with police, who fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds. Around 30 protesters breached the security perimeter around the City of Arts and Sciences, a landmark cultural complex, before officers removed them. Protesters are demanding a 50% reduction in rent, open-ended rental contracts, and the expropriation of homes from investment firms they describe as vulture funds.
Tens of thousands take to Madrid streets demanding housing action. Europe Today Euronews' flagship morning TV show with the news and insights that drive Europe, live from Brussels every morning at 08.00.
We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt. Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Madrid on Saturday demanding affordable housing and stronger protections for renters. Demonstrators carried banners, chanted and rattled their house keys as some called for a general strike over housing.
Tens of thousands protest in Spain after failed housing reforms. Latest demonstrations deepen a days-long crisis after parliament struck down two affordable housing decrees.
Latest demonstrations deepen a days-long crisis after parliament struck down two affordable housing decrees. Save Share Tens of thousands of people are rallying across Spain to demand affordable housing measures, the day after members of parliament rejected an emergency relief package for tenants. Demonstrators took to the streets in the capital, Madrid, and about 50 other cities on Saturday, calling for a general strike and reforms to address the country s increasingly expensive housing market.
Valeria Racu, a spokesperson for the Tenants Union, said Saturday s rallies revealed a new energy that we haven t seen in a long time, and energy that is showing that eight days of people s power can achieve more than eight years of progressive government . The eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner from her Madrid home triggered the movement more than a week ago, as hundreds set up tents in central Madrid to push for reforms. Now begins real politics politics which has always belonged to the people and which will return once and for all to the streets, Racu added.
In the southeastern city of Valencia, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up demonstrations. About 30 protesters managed to get inside the City of Arts and Sciences, a landmark cultural building, before police ousted them. Protests in dozens of other cities were peaceful, as people waved signs with slogans such as Houses to live in, a planet to inhabit and the right to a roof .
Spain: Massive protests after housing bills voted down. Organizers estimated that 500,000 people turned out in the streets of Madrid to demand affordable housing. Similar protests were held in around 50 other Spanish cities.
Similar protests were held in around 50 other Spanish cities. Tens of thousands of people protested across Spain on Saturday to demand affordable housing. The protests come a day after the Spanish parliament narrowly voted down two emergency bills designed to support renters and prevent evictions.
"What we are feeling in the streets is a new energy that we haven't seen in a long time, and energy that is showing that eight days of people's power can achieve more than eight years of progressive government," said Valeria Racu, one of the spokespeople of the Tenants' Union organizing Saturday's protest. Police said around 70,000 people took part in the demonstration in Madrid. Organizers put the figure closer to 500,000 people.
Police said around 70,000 people took part in the demonstration in Madrid. Organizers put the figure closer to 500,000 people. Additional protests were held in around 50 other cities.
In the eastern city of Valencia, police used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters. Dozens of protesters had managed to get inside Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences a major landmark in the city before they were ejected by police. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's proposed emergency measures included automatic renewal of tenancy contracts and restrictions on evicting vulnerable tenants.
'Anger in the streets': Tens of thousands protest in Spain over housing crisis. This video can not be played Major protest in Spain as millions struggle to find an affordable home Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across Spain calling for greater protections for tenants after the government failed to pass emergency housing legislation in parliament on Friday.
'Anger in the streets': Tens of thousands protest in Spain over housing crisis. This video can not be played Major protest in Spain as millions struggle to find an affordable home Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across Spain calling for greater protections for tenants after the government failed to pass emergency housing legislation in parliament on Friday. About 50 marches took place on Saturday in cities including Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona.
Several protesters removed barriers and threw objects at officers, who responded with rubber bullets, Spanish media reported. Public broadcaster RTVE said nine police officers were injured and five people were arrested. Tens of thousands took to the streets of Madrid to protest Tensions arose between some protesters and police officers in Valencia One of the biggest demonstration is happening in the capital, Madrid.
Public broadcaster RTVE said nine police officers were injured and five people were arrested. Tens of thousands took to the streets of Madrid to protest Tensions arose between some protesters and police officers in Valencia One of the biggest demonstration is happening in the capital, Madrid. Estimates of the number of participants varied widely, with the city's Tenants' Union putting it at 500,000, while government officials put the figure at 70,000.
Tens of thousands took to the streets of Madrid to protest Tensions arose between some protesters and police officers in Valencia One of the biggest demonstration is happening in the capital, Madrid. Estimates of the number of participants varied widely, with the city's Tenants' Union putting it at 500,000, while government officials put the figure at 70,000. Demonstrators held banners reading "There won't be peace for rentism" and "I study to have a future, not to have a tiny apartment".
Tens of thousands took to the streets of Madrid to protest Tensions arose between some protesters and police officers in Valencia One of the biggest demonstration is happening in the capital, Madrid. Estimates of the number of participants varied widely, with the city's Tenants' Union putting it at 500,000, while government officials put the figure at 70,000. Demonstrators held banners reading "There won't be peace for rentism" and "I study to have a future, not to have a tiny apartment".
Fresh protests over housing flare in Spain after lawmakers reject relief measures. Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Madrid and other cities in Spain on Saturday to demand affordable housing, fuelled by anger at lawmakers who narrowly rejected measures put forward by the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to strengthen protection for tenants. Issued on: 03/10/2026 - 15:20Modified: 03/10/2026 - 17:04 To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.
Fresh protests over housing flared in Madrid and other Spanish cities on Saturday, a day after parliament narrowly rejected the government's proposed relief measures for tenants. The rallies by tens of thousands of protesters extended a crisis that has gone on for more than a week, triggered by the September 23 forced expulsion of a pensioner from her Madrid flat. The government introduced the measures after nationwide protests following the eviction, on a stretcher, of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from a Madrid apartment she had occupied for around seven decades.
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