In 2025, the Spanish rental housing market is in the spotlight due to a sharp rise in prices and tightening conditions for tenants. Young people, families, and even pensioners are facing challenges that seemed impossible just a short while ago. In recent years, rent prices have increased so much that living independently has become an unattainable dream for many.
The situation is made worse not only by high prices, but also by landlords’ attitudes. Tenants increasingly complain about prejudice, especially if they are students or foreigners. Even with a stable income and willingness to pay in advance, many face refusals and additional requirements.
Record-high rents
Over the past five years, rent prices in Spain have risen by almost a quarter, and in some regions by one and a half times. Nationwide in 2025, renting one square meter costs around €14.5, a historic high. In major cities like Madrid and Barcelona, the situation is even more difficult: demand far exceeds supply, and competition among renters is fiercer than ever.
Many young people are forced to stay in the same apartments, despite rising costs, because finding something cheaper or better is nearly impossible. Searching for a new place to live often turns into an endless race where the winner isn’t the one who can pay more, but the one who meets all the landlord’s criteria.
Students in the Crosshairs
The problem is particularly acute for students. Apartment owners are increasingly refusing to rent to them, fearing instability or potential issues. Even if a student is willing to pay several months in advance, this doesn’t always help. One respondent said his application was rejected, despite offering to pay ten months upfront—simply because he was a student.
In some cases, new clauses appear in contracts that further restrict tenants’ rights. For example, if one roommate moves out, the others are required to cover their share of the rent. These conditions make co-renting even more risky and inconvenient.
Foreigners and bureaucracy
For foreigners, the situation is complicated by additional barriers. Even after a lengthy search and successfully signing a rental contract, many face difficulties when trying to register their residence. In some municipalities, registration is denied, citing various formal reasons. Often, the real issue is distrust of foreigners, even if all documents are in order.
Young couples who come to Spain seeking new opportunities report months of waiting and endless rejections. They have to prove their reliability, facing suspicion and bias. This creates extra stress and makes integrating into a new society even harder.
The elderly and housing funds
Housing issues affect not only young people and newcomers. Pensioners also find themselves in a difficult position due to the actions of large investment funds, which buy up property and drive up prices. Many elderly people, even with a steady income, cannot afford to rent a separate apartment and are forced to look for shared living options.
As a result, the market creates a situation in which no age or social group feels secure. Renters have to put up with constant uncertainty, while property owners dictate their terms without fear of losing tenants.
Despair and protests
Many renters admit they feel powerless in the face of this situation. The urge to take to the streets and demand change is tempered by the sense that nothing will come of it. People have to accept unfavorable conditions simply because there are no alternatives.
The issue of housing affordability has become one of the most pressing social topics in Spain. For now, there is no solution in sight, and the market continues to shift against renters.
