He Demographic growth In recent years, the New construction and the Difficulties to evict delinquent tenants They have wreaked havoc in the rental market throughout Spain, but especially in large cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona.The offer of floors under long -lasting lease regime has collapsed throughout Spain, and that has caused rental prices to triggerwith increases from 11.8% per year in March in the capital or 6.3% in Ciudad Condal, Already very tension by the increases of the past years, according to the data of the Fotocasa Real Estate Portal. However, beyond the rise in prices in the city as a whole, it is especially striking that They have triggered much more strength in the districts that were once more affordableas is the case of Villaverdethat rises 39.4% compared to 2024 and that approaches the prices of the districts of Moncloa or retirement, or of Nou Barris, that 20.5% are more expensive and almost at the level of Les Corts or Sarrià – Sant Gervasi. Madrid and Barcelona are left without affordable areas, displacing the middle class beyond its limits, to cities of the periphery.
The rental price has shot greatly in recent years for several reasons, especially following the Population arrival that has taken place in the pandemic recovery phasein addition to the impact of different laws that have been in force since then. But has climbed especially on the periphery of the big cities, with what both Madrid and Barcelona have run out of affordable areas within the municipality. Specifically, in the capital of Spain, Prices have come to shoot 39.4% in Villaverde In March of this year with respect to the same month of last year, followed by Barajas (30.9%) and, with increases around 20% per year, from San Blas, Puente de Vallecas, Fuencarral – El Pardo, Linear and Latin Citysome increases that They triple those of the districts within the central almond, around 6%-7%.
Y The differences are extended even more if the evolution is considered six yearssince March 2019, last year before Coronavirus. In the accumulated of the last six years, prices 83.5%have shot at Usera, followed by Villaverde (75%), Vallecas Puente (69%), Vicálvaro (65.7%) or Latin (65%)to the triple that in the Central District (26.5%), Salamanca (27.2%) or Chamberí (29.1%). All this has made neighborhoods that just six years ago were affordable for working families, with rents below 11 euros per square meter, are now unasumable, above 20 euros per month per square meter, with prices that touch the figures of Moncloa (21.2 euros per square meter) or retirement (21.3 euros). AND, However, purchase prices are getting furtherwith the Salamanca neighborhood at 10,434 euros per square meter, followed by Chamberí (8,895 euros) and retirement (8,504 euros), figures that quadruplic those of Villaverde (2,303 euros), Vallecas Puente (2,724 euros) or Villa de Vallecas (2,937 euros).
Barcelona
Something similar happens in Barcelonawhere rental prices in Nou Barris lead the increases, with a 20.5%annual rise, followed by Sant Andreu (19.9%) or Horta- Guinardó (11.9%), well above the rise Sarrià – Sant Gervasi (1.5%), Ciutat Vella (2.8%), Sant Martí (3.4%) or Eixample (6.8%). With this, these districts that just a few years ago were quite below the city average, up to 40% cheaper than the areas prime A decade ago, there are now between 20 and 22 euros per square meter per month, almost around the average of the city (22.7 euros) and very close to some of the most exclusive areas, such as Sarrià – Sant Gervasi (22.2 euros per square meter), Eixample or Ciutat Vella (22.9% in both cases). AND, Again, these increases do not have their replica in the sale market, where prices in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi (6,826 euros) and Eixample (6,653 euros) far duplicate the figures of Nou Barris (2,911 euros) or Sant Andreu (3,690 euros).
What are these divergences? On the one hand, much of The demographic pressure of recent years has concentrated in the lowest income sections, which has raised pressure on the most affordable neighborhoods, But also among the calls Digital nomadswhat they are looking for New construction and more spacious homes. “There is the circumstance that the newest, best and greatest homes They are in peripheral areas, not in the center. The center [Ciutat Vella] It attracts immigration of less purchasing power, but Nou Barris has many modern homes where immigrants with greater income are directed, “explains José García Montalvo, professor at Pompeu Fabra University.
In addition, the increasingly lower use of the private vehicle among the youngestespecially discouraged in big cities, has led to the search for a house to be limited to the districts of the periphery and very specific areas of the bedroom cities that surround it, those that are well connected to the capital per meter and nearby. “There is a big price difference from the best connected areas by public transport to the rest,” says García Montalvo. In addition, it indicates that it must be taken into account that the offer prices in the real estate portals often do not coincide with the final prices that offer the data of the bonds, which indicates that Many owners could be fixing very high output prices that, in case of not finding a tenant, end up reducing, something that does not happen so much in areas prime. On the other hand, the Royal Decree Anti -Sahucios He has also caused that rental prices shoot in the districts that were more affordable for a few years and containing themselves in the most exclusive. To avoid problems related to defaults and the revaluation of income below the CPI, the owners can opt for two ways: a better selection of tenants, choosing those who offer better payment guarantees, or A price increase that compensates for risk. And, although housing landlords in more exclusive areas prefer to bet on the first option, even if they are sacrificing some profitability, who have homes on the periphery, having a demand for lower quality, they are forced to choose the second route.
