The housing crisis in large cities, especially in Barcelona, continues to be a hot topic that generates indignation and concern among citizens. Recently, a rental ad offering a single bed on a shared balcony for 350 euros has provoked a wave of criticism and reflection on the accessibility of housing in Barcelona.
The program “En boca de todos” exposed this surprising advertisement, which showed a 90-centimeter bed located on a balcony barely one meter wide. The reaction was swift, with many people expressing their disbelief and indignation at the situation.
David Molina, who shared his complaint on social networks, summed it up eloquently by stating that he would rather sleep on the street with a mattress than pay to live in such conditions.
The problem goes beyond a single advertisement. It is a reflection of the growing housing crisis affecting Barcelona and other major Spanish cities.
Rental prices have reached alarming levels, rising 10.1% in the first half of 2023, far outpacing the pace of wage growth.
With an average rental price of 944 euros per month, many people are faced with the difficult choice between allocating most of their income to paying rent or looking for less decent and often precarious alternatives.
350 euros for a shared balcony?
The case of the shared balcony for 350 euros is just the tip of the iceberg of a wider crisis. The lack of regulation and control over rental prices has allowed landlords to impose exorbitant rates for unacceptable living conditions.
The situation is especially serious for young people and families, who see the dream of accessing decent housing receding further and further away.
The government has attempted to address this crisis with measures such as mortgage down payment assistance for young people, but these solutions are insufficient in the face of a systemic problem that requires more decisive and coordinated action.
Moreover, the problem is not limited to Barcelona; cities such as Madrid, Alicante, Cadiz and Malaga are also facing significant increases in rental prices, which further aggravates the situation.
It is clear that an urgent and concerted response is needed from the authorities to ensure access to decent housing for all citizens.
This includes measures to control rental prices, promote the construction of affordable housing and protect tenants’ rights. In the meantime, cases like the €350 shared balcony are a grim reminder of the urgency of addressing this crisis and preventing the situation from getting worse and worse.
