The housing crisis has intensified: Mayors of cities ask the EU for help.

Mayors of Madrid and Barcelona have presented their own ideas for solving problems in the housing market

Madrid and Barcelona have expressed their discomfort with the housing crisis caused by the growth of short-term rentals. The mayors of these cities presented their plans in the European Parliament, reports the media 'Hlavkom' citing Euronews.

Rising prices, inflation, and difficult access to rents have become problems in the real estate market in many EU countries. Tourist cities are particularly affected. For this reason, the mayors of Madrid and Barcelona presented their plans in the European Parliament.

The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, supports active construction. He believes that solving the problem lies in increasing the supply of housing by expanding construction areas. He also emphasized the importance of creating legal clarity and security for homeowners and brokers. This will help prevent illegal housing, support the construction of social housing, and simplify the regulatory framework.

The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, proposes a different approach. He advocates for action against the growth and control of the short-term rental market. Collboni emphasizes that the problem lies in the conflict between the right to housing and the right to economic or tourist use of residential space. He believes that the focus should be on protecting access to housing. The mayor has asked the European Commission for effective management and funding of housing policy.

The mayors have written a letter to the European Commission demanding direct dialogue with municipalities and accelerating the allocation of funds for the needs of cities. We recall that a position for housing issues was created in the new European Commission.

According to Eurostat, housing prices rose by more than 10% in six EU countries last year.

It is also noteworthy that tourists in Spain faced problems in hotels due to new guest registration rules. Complaints about this have come from various holiday destinations in the country, including Mallorca, Ibiza, and Tenerife.