The issue of housing affordability for young people in Spain is once again in the spotlight. Economists note that the younger generation faces significant challenges when trying to rent or buy a home. According to their estimates, renting an apartment costs young Spaniards more than 90% of their monthly income.
This situation creates a vicious cycle: young people cannot afford their own housing, which hinders their financial independence, prevents them from saving money, and postpones starting their own families. Experts emphasize that this state of affairs is not accidental, but the result of long-term housing policy decisions.
Looking back, specialists draw attention to the period from the mid-1950s to 1980, when Spain was actively building homes with government support. However, most of these properties quickly became privately owned, and the duration of preferential conditions was limited to 10-15 years. This prevented the creation of a sustainable stock of affordable housing that could stabilize the market and contain price growth.
Economists believe that if the state had focused on long-term rentals with tenant rights protected for decades, the situation today would be different. Instead, the housing market became subject to speculation, and affordable options for young people have virtually disappeared.
The consequences of such a policy are felt particularly acutely today. Young Spaniards are forced to spend almost all their earnings on rent, leaving them with no opportunity to save for their own home or invest in education and professional development. This affects not only their personal future but also the country’s economy as a whole.
Discussion of the problem once again raises the issue of the need for housing reforms. Experts are calling on the authorities to reconsider their approach to construction and housing distribution in order to give young people real chances for independent living. Possible solutions include developing long-term rentals with government guarantees, increasing the volume of social housing, and tightening control over speculative transactions in the real estate market.
For now, the younger generation in Spain continues to face high barriers on the path to financial independence and stability. The issue of housing affordability remains one of the most pressing for Spanish society and requires a comprehensive approach from both the government and the private sector.
