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76% of Spaniards call for the State to intervene in the housing market
Concern about access to housing in Spain has reached historic highs. More than 76% believe the State should intervene to guarantee the right to a home. 93% dream of owning their own home, but the reality is different.
Most people want to own a home, but only half manage to do so
Who hasn’t dreamed of having their own flat in Barcelona? It turns out that this wish is almost universal in Spain: 93.5% of those surveyed would prefer to live in a home they own. However, the reality is less idyllic: only 54.9% have achieved this, according to the latest CIS study.
Concern about access to housing is not just a feeling: 86.9% of Spaniards say they are very or quite worried about the state of the market. And with good reason, as 41.5% say the housing crisis already affects their daily lives directly.
The right to housing at the heart of the debate
The report, carried out between 22 and 30 June with more than 6,000 participants, reveals that 79% consider access to housing a top constitutional right. It’s not just an economic issue, but something that touches the foundations of daily life and the stability of thousands of families.
In this context, more than 76% of those surveyed believe the State should intervene in the property market as much as necessary to ensure that all citizens can access housing. The demand for public solutions is not new, but now it is being expressed in record numbers.
Owners or tenants? The dream and the reality
The gap between the desire to own and the reality is striking. Although almost everyone aspires to own a home, fewer than six in ten manage to do so. This difference leads to frustration and growing pressure on public housing policies.
Barcelona is no exception to this phenomenon. The difficulties in accessing affordable housing are felt in neighbourhoods like Gràcia, Eixample or Sant Martí, where prices and a lack of supply have changed the lives of many residents. The issue is not exclusive to the Catalan capital, but here it is felt with particular intensity.
The State under the scrutiny of the public
The demand for greater public intervention recalls other recent measures, such as those already adopted to protect vulnerable tenants and limit the purchase of homes by funds. However, the CIS survey makes it clear that the public expects more: not just protection, but real and effective access to decent housing.
The message from the survey is clear: housing has become a national priority and the pressure on institutions to act keeps growing. If 76% call for intervention and 93% dream of owning a home, it’s clear the current model does not meet most people’s expectations. The challenge for Barcelona and for all of Spain will be to turn this social demand into policies that truly change the lives of those seeking a home of their own.