Pyrenean communities rally against housing speculation
Residents and housing rights organisations held protests on Thursday 8 October in La Seu d’Urgell and Ripoll, demanding action against property speculation and the expansion of tourist lets in mountain towns. The demonstrations were organised by Pirineu Viu, the Tenants’ Union and the Catalan Housing Syndicate Confederation (COSHAC), which say second homes and seasonal rentals are pushing working-class people out of the region. Under the slogan "No more holiday lets and tourist housing, no more expulsion of the working class from our Pyrenees!", the groups highlighted that in some Upper Pyrenees municipalities, 70% to 80% of housing stock is vacant or used for tourism. According to data cited by Núria Ferrando, spokesperson for Pirineu Viu, the area has around 6,000 tourist flats that drastically reduce availability for permanent residents.
"Silent evictions" and ski season pressures
Pau Xavier, spokesperson for the Alt Urgell Housing Union, warned of a rise in "silent evictions", where landlords do not renew rental contracts to convert properties into high-priced seasonal lets, particularly during ski months. These non-renewals often go unchallenged due to tenants' fear of retaliation when seeking new housing in tight local markets. In Cerdanya, proximity to ski resorts intensifies the issue. Trade union representative Àngela Torés explained that a significant portion of housing is now dedicated exclusively to short-term rentals, further shrinking the supply for locals. This trend aligns with findings from Idescat, the Catalan statistics institute: between 2001 and 2021, the proportion of households renting as their main residence rose by 57.3% in Cerdanya, while second homes now account for 58.2% of all housing in the comarca.
Demand for rent regulation and public housing
The organisations are calling for effective regulation of short-term lets, an expansion of public housing, and measures to reclaim dwellings currently used for tourism or as second homes. COSHAC spokesperson Marta Espriu advocated for broader mobilisation, including a general housing strike, to confront a crisis affecting mountain areas, coastal zones and major cities alike.
We’re seeing entire villages hollowed out, where locals can’t find homes because everything’s been turned into holiday flats. This isn’t just about prices, it’s about the right to live in our own communities.
, Núria Ferrando, spokesperson, Pirineu Viu Data from Idescat shows that across the Alt Pirineu and Aran regions, 57.23% of the 72,955 homes recorded in 2021 were second residences, up from 41.06% two decades earlier. In municipalities like Naut Aran, Alt Àneu and Vall de Boí, all near ski stations, non-primary homes exceed 74% of the housing stock.
Reported by llibertat.cat, t.co, digitalandorra.com, regio7.cat, viurealspirineus.cat, acapa.cat, ACN, lavalira.eu, segre.com, diaridebarcelona.cat, Enric Quílez Presidente del Grup de Recerca Cerdanya.
