Thousands of renters and residents have taken to Barcelona's streets, demanding a change to the unaffordable housing that the city is currently grappling with. ⁣ ⁣ In the seaside city, rents are reaching an average of $1,350, compared against average take-home wages of around $2,250. ⁣ ⁣ Residents are complaining that thousands of flats are being left empty by large corporations, private enquiry firms, and banks. The protests follow mass-demonstrations in Madrid, when an 87-year-old disabled woman was evicted from her flat after the rent was increased three-fold. ⁣ ⁣ On Monday (October 5), Spain's prime minister Pedro Sánchez announced he would be holding a snap general election, in a bid to gain greater electoral power after two housing bills failed to pass through his fractured parliament. ⁣ ⁣ #Barcelona #Madrid #Protests #UnaffordableHousing #Demonstrations⁣