A Wake-Up Call for Tenants in Barcelona
For the past 33 years, Marga Aguilar has held a steadfast commitment to her home, never missing a rent payment for her apartment located in a striking Modernist-style building nestled in the vibrant heart of Barcelona. The previous owner of this beloved residence treated her, along with the other tenants, like family, ensuring that rent remained affordable and manageable. However, the recent passing of the owner brought an unexpected and harsh reality for Ms. Aguilar.
With the new ownership now in the hands of a Dutch investment fund, the fate of the building—known as Casa de la Papallona due to its enchanting mosaic butterfly sculpture crowning the structure—has shifted dramatically. The fund’s plans to transform the apartments into high-profit temporary rentals have resulted in eviction notices being served to the tenants, including Ms. Aguilar, demanding they vacate the premises within a month.
“I felt my legs start to buckle under the weight of the news,” recalled Ms. Aguilar, who has been sharing her home with her 92-year-old father since the onset of the pandemic. “The uncertainty is overwhelming—we have no idea where we will go next, as finding affordable housing feels impossible.”
Spain is grappling with a significant housing crisis that has emerged as one of the most pressing issues in Europe today. Since 2015, nearly one-tenth of the nation’s housing stock has been acquired by investors or repurposed for tourist rentals. This dramatic shift in the housing landscape has led to a scarcity of available homes, driving prices up at a pace that far outstrips wage growth, effectively placing affordable living spaces beyond the reach of many residents.
- Marga Aguilar and her father, Jordi, face eviction from Casa de la Papallona in Barcelona.
- The La Marina neighborhood is being targeted for new social housing initiatives in response to the crisis.
As the situation continues to unfold, the impact on families and individuals like Ms. Aguilar highlights the urgent need for solutions to address the growing housing crisis in Spain.
