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Valencia residents mobilize against soaring housing costs
Housing advocacy groups in Valencia are organizing a series of protests in the coming weeks to demand stricter measures against surging rents and property prices. Residents of Spain’s third-largest city are voicing growing frustration over the lack of affordable housing, which they say is increasingly out of reach for young people and families.
The demonstrations follow similar actions in 2024, where activists also targeted issues like overtourism. Advocacy groups are now preparing a detailed schedule of marches and proposals to present to the Valencian government. Central to their demands is the call to designate Valencia as a "stressed zone," a legal status that could implement rent caps and stricter regulations on rental agreements.
Housing crisis deepens
The Platform for People Affected by Mortgages in Valencia (PAH) is at the forefront of the movement. José Luis González-Meseguer, the group’s spokesperson, announced plans for a public event called “València no està en venda” ("Valencia is not for sale") to raise awareness and press local authorities for decisive action. The event is being organized in collaboration with neighborhood associations and organizations across the city.
Recent data underscores the urgency of the situation. The Housing Observatory of the Polytechnic University of Valencia reports that the average rental price in Valencia has reached €1,633, an increase of 75% since 2019. Meanwhile, the cost of second-hand flats now averages more than €300,000, according to property website Idealista.
Evictions and legal measures
The housing crisis is exacerbated by a rising number of evictions. Over 500 evictions were recorded in Valencia in the first quarter of this year alone, according to PAH. Advocacy groups, including the Valencia Neighbourhood Federation and the Valencia Youth Council, have urged the city council to declare Valencia a stressed zone.
This designation would impose limits on rent increases in areas where housing costs exceed 30% of average income or where prices have risen significantly above inflation over the past five years. While Barcelona, one of Spain’s first stressed zones, saw rents drop by 6.4% in 2024, property prices in the city have still risen by 10.4% over the past year, highlighting the complexity of the issue.
Valencia’s protests come amidst a broader national debate over housing policy, as residents and advocacy groups demand solutions to prevent further displacement and ensure access to affordable homes.