Nearly 75% of renters in Spain now worry they could be forced out of their homes within two years. The pressure is sharpest for Generation Z and millennials, exposing a deepening housing crisis.
Spain’s renters are on edge. New data from a 40dB. survey for EL PAÍS and Cadena SER shows almost three out of four tenants fear they could lose their homes in the next two years. The anxiety is sharpest among young people. Generation Z and millennials feel the ground shifting under them. Spain’s Ministry of Housing Policy estimates 8.4 million renters could see higher rents after a failed rent cap. There are 1.9 million contracts about to expire. Another 1.6 million people must renegotiate leases before January 2027.
For those aged 18 to 45, the threat is real. More than 56% in this group say they worry about being forced to move for financial reasons. Among all renters, the number jumps to nearly 75%. The survey, based on 2,000 online interviews in late September, comes as Spain’s government remains stuck on housing reforms. High-profile evictions have fueled public anger. The government has announced urgent housing measures. The Minister of Housing Policy says some families now spend over half their salary just to keep a roof over their heads.
Spain faces a housing shortage of around 700,000 to 755,000 homes, with the risk of the deficit reaching 1 million by 2028.
Owning a home is no easy fix. More than half of mortgage holders—57.4%—spend over 30% of their income on monthly payments. The youngest buyers feel it most. Among centennials with mortgages, 84.2% cross that line. Still, the dream of owning a home is alive. Of those without property, 83% want to buy. But more than a third believe they never will. Only about a quarter think they might buy within the next decade.
Renters face even steeper odds. Three out of four pay more than 30% of their income in rent. For Generation Z, it’s 84.5%. Few see their rent as affordable. Only 6.2% of renters call their rent low. Most—62%—say it’s high. The survey shows more than two-thirds of Spaniards back price caps, even if landlords lose out. This includes over half of PP and Vox voters. Euronews and Democrata report that in 2024, 28.1% of market renters spent over 40% of their disposable income on housing. Budgets are stretched thin.
Barriers to independence
Rental prices in Spain have been rising faster than wages, with an 8.5% increase in 2025 and nearly 10% in Madrid alone. Meanwhile, the share of the population living in market-rate rentals has grown from 13% in 2014 to 17% in 2025, making the rental market both larger and more expensive.
Getting a place of your own is harder than ever. More than half of Generation Z—52.7%—still live with parents or in-laws. Nearly one in five millennials do the same. For many centennials, sharing a flat is more common than renting alone. 11.6% live in shared apartments. Only 9.4% have their own space. Most people agree: housing is harder to get than five years ago. 82% say things have gotten worse. Almost 60% call it “much more difficult.” Madrid and Barcelona feel the squeeze most.
Family as lifeline
Family help is often the only way forward. More than a third of homeowners got help from relatives to buy. Among millennial owners, most—55.2%—needed family support. For centennials, it’s 65.4%. Renters lean on family too. 21.9% get regular or occasional help with rent. The share rises to 34.2% for centennial tenants and 32.3% for those in shared flats. For many, family is the safety net.
Political stalemate and public frustration
The survey landed after the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal and just before the government’s latest housing decrees. The future of these measures is unclear. Political opposition is strong. The sense of housing as a drag on life plans is everywhere. Protests and slogans echo the frustration. As reported earlier, even parties that blocked urgent reforms now face backlash from their own voters as the crisis deepens. Reuters reports the government has advanced two decrees, including a ban on evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030. But both depend on a parliamentary vote. Nothing is settled.
Spain’s housing market is now a daily struggle for millions. The numbers are clear. Without real action, the next generation may never find stable housing. Family support is no longer a privilege. It’s a lifeline. The cost of inaction is measured in lives put on hold. The system is failing those it should protect.
