Housing crisis deepens across Europe

The housing crisis in Europe is intensifying. According to Eurostat, Hungary leads the European Union in housing price increases with a rise of 21.2%, followed by Portugal at 18.9% and Croatia at 16.1%. Ranked fourth, Spain has seen particularly sharp increases in cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. With average price growth reaching 12.9%, tenants have begun to mobilize.

The Tenants’ Union Confederation has launched a campaign to organize the first nationwide rent strike against the real estate company Alquiler Seguro, accusing it of continuing “illegal practices.”

“We can no longer wait. We are tired of illegal charges — including agency fees amounting to two or even three months’ rent — insurance and bills imposed through companies within the same group, lack of property maintenance, and dozens of other abuses such as fees of up to €200 just to view a property. We will take action because we are being ignored, because fraudulent profits are being pocketed, and because bad-faith clauses are being imposed in rental contracts. We will organize building by building, and this will be a historic event.”

Source: Habertürk