Room rentals rise in Spain driven by soaring flat rents
3.2% of Spaniards have already rented or looked for a room, up from 2.8% a year ago. Fotocasa says higher prices and a lack of supply are pushing many tenants to share homes as an alternative to conventional renting.
In Spain, the percentage of individuals opting to rent or explore room rentals in shared flats has risen to 3.2%, compared to 2.8% the previous year. This trend is highlighted in a report by Fotocasa Research, which analyzed data from the first half of 2026, indicating that sharing housing is becoming a more frequent choice in the rental market. Fotocasa attributes this shift more to financial constraints than personal preference, as tenants are forced to adapt their expectations due to unaffordable market conditions.
According to María Matos, Fotocasa's head of Research and spokesperson for the platform, renting a room has become the secondary option for those unable to secure traditional tenancies. The study reveals an overlap between the room rental and whole property rental markets, but only in one direction. Among those who have either rented or searched for a room, 34% have also looked for or rented an entire property within the past year.
This suggests that many are aiming for larger accommodations. Conversely, just 11% of individuals who have searched for or rented a whole flat have considered a room rental.
The demand for rental housing has increased to encompass 12% of the active population, a modest rise from 11.5% in 2025. Matos views these figures as part of a broader trend, noting that the strain on renting is permeating the entire market. As the supply of rental properties remains low and prices remain high, more individuals are compelled to seek alternative housing solutions.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
