Madrid rent protest: hundreds demand open-ended leases

Hundreds gather at Puerta del Sol in Madrid, Spain, on Monday 28 September, demanding open-ended rental contracts. Spain’s Council of Ministers could approve a housing decree on Tuesday, but tenants’ union spokesperson Rufina Parra says protests will probably continue even if it includes some of the union’s demands.

The Sindicato de Inquilinas wants the government to adopt what it calls the Maricarmen decree. The union and other housing groups sent their proposal to the government last October.

Open-ended contracts are the sticking point

Parra says the union could compromise on its demand for lower rents, but not on open-ended contracts. Without them, she argues, tenants would still face eviction and unfair contract terms. She says the union is not calling for homes to be expropriated.

A decree may not end the protests

If Tuesday’s decree falls short, the union will keep protesting, Parra says. She accuses the central government of leaving its proposal untouched for almost a year. She also criticises the conservative People’s Party, which governs both Madrid city and the Madrid region, for failing to act. Parra says investors, large landlords and public authorities also bear responsibility for the housing situation.

Topics: Jobs & labour · Housing · Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com