logo
episode-header-image
May 2025
17m 38s

Inside Spain's housing crisis

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Millions of people in the country are struggling to find affordable homes. We’ll be looking at why rental costs have been rising so sharply.

We hear from some of those affected, and find out why they have been taking to the streets to air their grievances.

Plus – what are the solutions?

Produced and presented by Guy Hedgecoe

(Image: A woman is holding a placard saying "not for sale" in Spanish, as she takes part in a nationwide demonstration in favour of decent housing. Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Málaga to protest against the housing crisis caused by rising rental prices, job insecurity, and mass tourism. Credit: Getty Images)

Up next
Jul 30
Taking stock: China gains in the AI race
Is China rapidly catching up with the United States in the race to dominate artificial intelligence? Rahul Tandon is joined by Walter Todd in the US and Rebecca Choong Wilkins in Singapore to discuss, following a week of sharp moves in AI-related markets and growing questions ove ... Show More
24m 19s
Apr 2026
Headspace: from mindfulness app to military partner
Headspace started life as a mindfulness app. Now it's partnering with the US Navy and investing in artificial intelligence for mental health support.The company's CEO Tom Pickett speaks to us about therapy, the increasing role of technology, and tackling burnout at scale.If you'd ... Show More
17m 28s
Apr 2026
Anthropic: the $300bn AI firm at war with the White House
Anthropic’s rise from startup to one of the world’s leading players in artificial intelligence has been staggering, but so in recent weeks has been its row with the US Government.Today, we look at that journey to becoming a 380 billion dollar company, ask why Claude has become on ... Show More
17m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
'Rent is too damn high!' Europe’s growing housing crisis
In this episode we look at a crisis that is affecting many Europeans in most EU countries: skyrocketing rents and house prices, a shortage of flats, long waiting lists for social or affordable housing — commonplace problems from Greece to Luxembourg to Portugal. Host Sarah Wheato ... Show More
40m 5s
Oct 2024
Thousands protest for affordable housing in Spain
Tens of thousands of people are protesting in Spain amid soaring housing and rental prices. Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas ended talks in Cairo. U.S. President Joe Biden visited Florida to survey the damage of Hurricane Milton. 
12m 15s
Jan 2024
Money Box Live: The Rising Cost of Rent
A typical rental property gets 25 enquires from people who want to view it, according to the property listings site Rightmove. That high demand also comes alongside high prices. The estate agents Hamptons says tenants have been hit with the biggest rise in rental costs in at leas ... Show More
28m 11s
Jul 2025
"Screaming For Leadership" - California Voters DEMAND New Home Construction Amid 2.5M Housing CRISIS
California voters rank housing as the top issue, demanding action on the affordability crisis. The PBD Podcast breaks down Newsom’s stalled leadership, environmental red tape, and how California’s housing failures are driving residents to leave the state in record numbers. 
14m 25s
Nov 2020
Foreign Investment and the Housing Crisis
<p>In cities across Canada, the US and other parts of the world, the cost of living continues to rise -- and housing becomes increasingly unaffordable. Rental rates outpace inflation. Owning a home becomes virtually impossible for millions. Economists have debated the usual cause ... Show More
1h 17m
Aug 2024
Summer special: ‘Rent is too damn high!’ Europe’s growing housing crisis
On our summer break, we're bringing this episode from January back into your feed by popular demand, looking at a crisis that is affecting many Europeans in most EU countries: skyrocketing rents and house prices, a shortage of flats, long waiting lists for social or affordable ho ... Show More
41m 25s
Jun 2025
Confronting the affordable-housing crisis
The US housing crunch is bad—and it’s getting worse. Wider access to safe, affordable homes is vital to enabling economic mobility for all Americans—and to harnessing what McKinsey Partner JP Julien, a leader of the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility, calls a “massive” unta ... Show More
25m 28s
May 2024
Is Housing a Human Right?
The dramatic housing shortage in California affects millions of residents and leads thousands to homelessness. The 2024 Arthur N. Rupe Great Debate addresses this issue by asking, “Is Housing a Human Right?” If so, our state faces a massive undertaking. Experts with diverse speci ... Show More
1h 24m
Jul 2023
Housing Is A Right?
<p>Tenants can hardly be blamed for being confused. Many have never owned a home and they have no idea what it costs to own and maintain a property. </p> <p>With the rise in interest rates, home affordability has become even more expensive. Inflation has affected many of the main ... Show More
6m 48s
Nov 2023
Lancaster Live: Can You Afford Your Home?
This week the team is live at a community centre in Lancaster to look at all things housing.It's one of the biggest financial stories of the year. Rising interest rates led to hundreds of mortgage deals being pulled earlier this year before being replaced by costlier versions. Th ... Show More
28m 48s