Spain’s housing shortage is not easing. Santiago Niño Becerra says the only way out is to put more homes on the market. He is blunt: “The problem will not be solved unless the supply increases.”
His comments came after the eviction of Maricarmen, a case that has drawn national attention. The economist, known for his blunt approach, posted his views online. His position was clear: “It does not matter where the new supply comes from, whether it’s converting tourist apartments back to residential use, bringing empty homes to market, or building new properties.”
Information from Spain's Ministry of Housing, the average price of free-market housing reached €2,355 per square meter in the second quarter of 2026, up 12.5% year on year.
Niño Becerra points to a stark figure: 3.83 million homes in Spain are empty, with no one registered as living in them. Electricity is used for barely two weeks a year. He calls these vacant homes a wasted chance and a sign of policy failures stretching back decades.
He traces the crisis to two major shifts. First came the mass construction of subsidized homes for sale in the 1950s and 1960s. Many had short protection periods, which did little to create a stable rental market. The second shift was the boom in tourist rentals that began in 2010, when campaigns encouraged families to rent out second homes for extra cash. “Today’s housing problem exists because nothing was done to prevent it,” he says.
The numbers show how deep the problem runs. The June barometer from the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) found that 41.5% of Spaniards now see housing as the country’s top issue. The economic crisis followed at 19.2%, while immigration registered 18.9%. Asked about their personal concerns, 28.4% put the economy first. Housing came in at 27.4%, and healthcare at 21.7%.
The Bank of Spain estimates that the accumulated housing deficit since 2021 stands at around 755,000 homes. It warns the figure could surpass 1 million by 2028 if current trends continue.
Lawmakers continue to argue over new rules and short-term fixes. Niño Becerra is unconvinced, calling these efforts “patches to calm public opinion.” He warns that unless supply rises sharply, the shortage will drag on and social tensions will worsen. The Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas has reported that deep-rooted problems often receive only temporary solutions.
Spain’s housing crisis reflects decades of choices that favored quick wins over lasting stability. Niño Becerra proposes bringing empty homes back into use and increasing supply by rethinking tourist rentals and building more homes.
