Rental living is a decision that many people make because they have no other choice. Buying a home is a huge investment, and in addition, you need to save some money that will allow you to at least meet going into credit, as well as have enough financial solvency to get a mortgage. For this reason, those who choose renting as the only possible solution due to their circumstances, without wanting to, begin to generate income Social gap With those who have the means to become owners. In reality, Eight out of 10 Tenants They assumed that this condition would never be waivedSince they do not expect to inherit a house, their only chance is to become owners, according to a study published by the Barcelona Institute for Urban Research (IDRA), a group of experts seeking to promote social and environmental justice.
The volume of tenants has reached very high numbers in different cities around the world so far in this century. Although today in Spain this market barely represents 10% of the total housing stock – the ambition to become a homeowner is more deeply rooted than in other countries – Cities like Lisbon or Buenos Airesin it, in addition to Madrid and BarcelonaThe IDRA study also highlighted that the proportion has risen significantly.
While in In the Argentine capital, the proportion of renters has tripled since 2001. In Portugal, the number of tenants grew in 2021 for the first time since 1960. Regarding Madrid and Barcelona, the text indicates that they “have witnessed an accelerated increase since 2007,” as they Barcelona is the city with the highest percentage of renters.
These continuous increases over time have shaped the features of different societies. The study, whose results were extracted from surveys conducted with tenants in these four cities, indicates that the data “It turns out that the housing crisis is not a problem specific to one country, and that it does not answer the simple question of lack of supplyIn this regard, he emphasizes that “more and more people are living on rent, and they are doing so in conditions characterized by housing insecurity, economic fragility and wealth inequality.”
Being a renter is often a forced decision for those people who want to become independent. However, this is a potential emergency. According to the study, between A 30% and 44% of those who recently immigrated did so by forceBecause they are unable to face rising prices or terminate their contracts. Furthermore, around a third of them believe they will have to move in the next year, while six in 10 have been in their current home for less than five years (the guaranteed length of the lease for their primary residence in Spain).
“The rental market is a source of urban inequality. The expansion of rent as a form of access to housing, without adequate protection, has deepened social inequality and left many tenants helpless.
This constant going in and out of different homes, which is painful in itself, is exacerbated by the fact that finding a new space is not an easy task either. In Barcelona and Madrid, 42.18% of Tenants admit they have faced barriers to rentingmuch below From the case of Buenos Aires (76%) Although records are doubled in Lisbon, where difficulties are lower, with only 17% of tenants experiencing barriers.
According to the study, it is true Paying rent puts a huge burden on tenants’ finances. In the case of Madrid, the average effort rose from 42% among contracts signed before 2018 to 53% among contracts in 2023; While in Barcelona, the increase was more moderate, rising from 52% in contracts signed in 2017 or before, to 56% in contracts signed in 2022.
It is an effort, in addition, that they must make in order to be able to maintain it Homes that eight out of 10 reported had major deficiencies. The main deficiencies reported by tenants are those related to poor thermal and acoustic insulation, as well as lack of heating, and the need to renovate a very old garden.
One of the key aspects when it comes to perpetuating inequality among many renters relates to the fact that the protected market (affordable rental housing market) A minority in cities such as Madrid or Barcelona (at 7% and 9% of the total respectively). “This trend is characterized by the scheduled cancellation of old lease contracts,” the text stated, also indicating that income instability or The lack of job opportunities is another factor that makes access to housing difficult For rent to this group.
Another notable point in the study is the ambiguity in which renters find themselves with their landlords. In Barcelona, 17% do not know who owns it, compared to 8.2% in Madrid. Moreover, in both cities, tenants who deal with a real estate agency have less knowledge of who the landlord is (24.1% in Barcelona, 18.8% in Madrid). “Tenants whose relationship is mediated by a real estate agency have less satisfaction with their homes; They experience more violations, more rent increases, more discrimination in access to housing, and a greater sense of housing instability.
As recommendations to reverse this situation, the authors of the text claim Greater protection for tenants Through different formats: offering contracts without a pre-determined expiration date, which continue as long as they meet their obligations; Prohibiting the purchase of housing for the purpose of speculative investment; Imposing progressive taxes on property ownership and real estate assets; Expanding the supply of public housing for rent in perpetuity; Preventing the granting of tourist rental licenses Or taxing empty homes.