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Bienvenido a YesHouse
Data presented by the Centre d’Estudis d’Opinió (CEO) highlights that access to housing has become the main challenge in Catalonia, surpassing even long-standing concerns such as insecurity or unemployment.
The latest survey, focused on opinions and preferences regarding housing in Catalonia, covers more than 50 key aspects. Question number 19 stands out: 91% of respondents consider it difficult or very difficult to find a home that meets their needs. In addition, 89% believe this situation negatively affects people’s quality of life, although only 35% say they feel equally affected on a personal level. In other words, many recognize the social problem but believe they are less personally impacted. Another key finding is that 37% have had to cut essential expenses such as food or transportation in order to pay their rent or mortgage.
The study also highlights the profound gap between housing supply and demand in Catalonia. According to responses, 21% of people over 16 considered buying a home in the last year—about 1.4 million people interested—a figure far above the available supply (the regional government aims to build 50,000 homes by 2030). Among young people aged 25 to 34, 45% expressed interest in purchasing a home, meaning around half a million people in that age group have seen their life plans delayed or halted.
Joan Rodríguez, director of the CEO, emphasized during the presentation that the intention to buy far exceeds the real possibilities of the market, both due to the lack of new housing developments and the low mobility in the rental market: only 4% of respondents attempted to rent out a property to others in the past year.
Social expectations about housing are clear. 74% of participants believe buying a property is a fundamental life goal, 46% think renting is a waste of money, and 56% see buying an apartment as the best form of investment. This creates enormous social pressure and frustration, as people are unable to achieve what is perceived as a collective goal.
At the same time, 55% of Catalans do not expect to inherit a property, a figure that drops to 36% among those aged 16 to 49. Crossing this data with political preferences, those identifying with CUP or Aliança Catalana are the most optimistic about receiving property inheritances, while voters of PP and Vox see it as much less likely.
When asked about solutions to Barcelona’s and Catalonia’s housing crisis, the most supported proposals are:
Increasing affordable public housing (84%)
Limiting tourist apartments (74%)
Requiring large landlords to allocate part of their housing stock to social rent (72%)
Raising taxes on owners with multiple vacant properties (71%)
Women, in particular, expressed stronger support for these measures.
Only 36% report having no problems with their current home, compared to:
33% who complain of poor thermal insulation
25% who report noise due to poor construction
20% who live with damp or humidity issues
In addition, 28% believe it is likely they will have to move within the next five years, and 13% think they will even change municipality. Of these, 15% cite price as the main reason, a figure that rises to 33% among 25- to 34-year-olds.
The survey also addresses the phenomenon of squatting. Its social acceptance is very low, with an average score of 2.7 out of 10, although respondents rated it 7.3 out of 10 as a serious social problem. Opinions on how to respond to squatting are divided between social solutions and police intervention.
Despite the complicated housing situation in Barcelona and across Catalonia, most respondents still value their quality of life positively, with an average score of 6.1 out of 10 and 84% giving it at least a 5. This suggests that, although housing access remains a pressing issue, individual perceptions of overall quality of life remain reasonably good.