Headline: Thousands Protest Across Spain After Government’s Housing Measures Defeated

Date: 3 October 2026

Tags: Spain, Housing, Protests, Politics

Summary:

• Thousands demonstrated across Spain after parliament rejected emergency measures intended to address the country’s housing crisis.

• Around 50 demonstrations were planned in cities including Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona.

• Government officials estimated 70,000 attended Madrid’s protest, while organisers claimed approximately 500,000 participants.

• Protesters are demanding lower rents, stronger eviction protections and restrictions on investment funds purchasing residential properties.

• In Valencia, clashes resulted in nine police officers being injured and five people arrested, according to public broadcaster RTVE.

• The protests intensified following September’s eviction of an 87-year-old woman unable to afford a substantial rent increase.

• One rejected decree would have suspended vulnerable-tenant evictions until 2030 and extended some expiring rental agreements.

• It also proposed higher taxes on tourist accommodation and restrictions on investment funds buying residential properties.

• A second rejected decree included automatic renewal of rental contracts, a key demand of tenant campaigners.

• Sánchez’s minority coalition failed to secure enough parliamentary support, including from Catalan pro-independence party JxCat.

Why this matters: Spain’s housing crisis is driving nationwide protests while exposing the difficulties Sánchez’s minority government faces passing legislation.

What’s next: Madrid’s Tenants’ Union is calling for a general strike, while the parliamentary defeat increases political pressure on Sánchez’s government.