Spanish survey finds 86% believe housing access is not guaranteed for all citizens

Broad pessimism over housing access

A survey published by Spain's Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) reveals widespread pessimism regarding housing access across the country. According to the study, titled 'Actitudes hacia el Estado de bienestar (III)', 86% of respondents believe the right to decent and adequate housing is not guaranteed for all citizens. Specifically, 68.4% state that housing access is guaranteed only for some individuals, while 18.2% maintain it is guaranteed for nobody. Only 11.9% of participants consider the right guaranteed for everyone, down from 15.7% in a similar 2024 survey.

Pessimism extends to future market conditions. When asked about acquiring a first home, 65.9% of respondents expect conditions to worsen in the coming years, 17.2% believe they will remain the same, and 14.3% expect an improvement. Skepticism is particularly elevated among younger demographics aged 18 to 34. Across political affiliations, voters consistently express doubt about housing access, led by supporters of the PNV at 95.5%, Sumar at 93.9%, Junts at 89.3%, Vox at 88%, and the PSOE at 87.9%. Data shows that rental prices in Spain rose 50% over the past decade, leaving one in five Spaniards in rental accommodation and half a million more people under 34 living with their parents than in 2015.

Views on public services and the welfare state

The CIS survey, directed by José Félix Tezanos, conducted over 6,000 interviews between 10 and 17 September 2026. Beyond housing, the findings reflect public concern over social services and future welfare provisions. A majority of 52.4% report that citizens lack equal opportunities to access public services, identifying income level (28.2%), autonomous community (13.6%), and residential neighbourhood (11.3%) as primary obstacles.

Public expectations regarding healthcare and pensions show similar unease. Among respondents, 57.5% anticipate that the public pension system will worsen, compared to 25.2% who expect stability and 13.8% who foresee improvement. For healthcare, 51.1% project declining standards, 25% anticipate no change, and 21.9% expect progress. Overall satisfaction remains low across several public sectors: wildfire prevention received negative ratings from 71.7% of respondents, the justice system from 69.4%, and long-term care support from 61.8%. Only public transport (56.2%), education (54%), pension management (51.1%), citizen security (50.9%), and healthcare (50.6%) secured positive satisfaction ratings above 50%.

Fiscal perceptions and policy developments

The study documents widespread discontent with tax distribution and administrative returns. Approximately 68.9% of respondents do not believe higher earners pay proportionally higher taxes, while 28.1% believe they do. Furthermore, 58.7% feel society receives little or no benefit from taxes and contributions, and 60.9% state they personally receive less from public administrations than they contribute. Despite this dissatisfaction, overwhelming majorities support increased government expenditure in specific core services, with 94.6% demanding higher spending on healthcare, 92.6% on education, and 92.1% on wildfire prevention.

The survey fieldwork concluded shortly before the 23 September eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid residence of 70 years, an event that triggered street demonstrations and an encampment at Puerta del Sol. Following the social reaction and an agreement with Urbagestión allowing Abascal to return home, the Spanish government approved two Royal Decree-Laws regarding housing market intervention, scheduled for a parliamentary vote on Friday.