Tenants to fill streets of Barcelona to demand rent reductions

Barcelona is bracing itself for a mass protest on Saturday against rising rents. 

The Tenants' Union hopes to fill the streets of the Catalan capital with thousands of tenants, demanding a reduction in rents and condemning "blackmail" from property owners when it comes to renewing contracts. 

The march, starting at 5pm in Plaça Universitat, could be similar in scale to the demonstration that took place a few weeks ago in Madrid, which was attended by 150,000 people according to the organizers. The Spanish government put the figure at 22,000.  

The Tenants' Union hopes to build on the momentum created by the march, calling a rent strike in protest at rising prices. 

The idea of a rent strike is already proving controversial, with property owners claiming it would be illegal. Housing activists have not confirmed details of how it would work, while experts Catalan News spoke to say there is some precedent in other countries. 

'It's over! Let's lower the rents!' 

The march's slogan is: 'It's over! Let's lower the rents'. 

Among the "clear and urgent" demands of the Tenants' Union, is reducing rents by up to 50%. This is in response to the increases over the last decade, which have been "systematically impoverishing" families. 

The housing activists organization also wants rental contracts to be indefinite, to prevent "blackmail and insecurity." 

Other demands include taking action on vacant, tourist, and seasonal housing, so they can return to the residential market, and prohibiting 'speculative buying' and putting an end to the 'hoarding' of housing." 

Protesters from around Catalonia 

According to the organizers, protesters will travel to Barcelona by rail from meet-up points in around fifty towns and cities throughout Catalonia, and by buses from Reus, Tarragona and Lleida. There will also be more than fifteen groups from various Barcelona neighborhoods. 

The demonstration will start in Plaça Universitat and will move along Gran Via, Calabria and Consell de Cent until reaching Plaça dels Països Catalans. 

Protests are also taking place in other Catalan cities: at noon in Lleida, at 11.30am in Tarragona and in Girona at 11.30am.