The price of rent in Spain continues to rise, leaving families increasingly suffocated. In Madrid, rents increased by 18% last year, reaching 20 euros per square meterwhich has increased the cost of housing to levels that many families can no longer afford. An “economic” rent is now considered to be 1,400 euros for a third floor without a lift, according to a Madrid real estate agency.
The situation is not much better in Barcelona, where prices have increased by 10% in the last year. Adriana, a resident of the city, feels lucky because her landlord has kept her rent at more than 2,000 euros per month, while the average price A 75 square meter apartment in the provinces costs 1,460 euros. “It’s a lot of luck,” he says, although the cost remains a huge burden on his family.
This situation is untenable for many households, especially those on low incomes. A few years ago, the effort to pay rent represented 22% of the income of an average household; now, this number has increased to 27%.
“Salaries have not increased at the same rate as rents,” warn real estate industry players. Meanwhile, portals like Fotocasa claim that prices are increasing because “Good deals are disappearing” and only the house with a higher value remains on the market.
With the possibility of buy a house further and further awayMany families, like Adriana’s, are waiting, trapped in a rental market that seems to have no ceiling.
