Sindicat des Llogaters
A grassroots organization based in Catalonia, Spain, advocating for tenants’ rights and affordable housing. Founded in 2017, the union addresses issues such as rent increases, unjust evictions, and real estate speculation. It uses both political pressure and direct action, such as rent strikes, to negotiate better lease conditions and oppose housing insecurity.
The group played a pivotal role in the introduction of Catalonia’s rent control law in 2020, which temporarily capped rental prices to combat rising costs. Although this law was later annulled by Spain’s Constitutional Court, the union continues to push for national rent control legislation. Its efforts highlight the importance of collective tenant action and mutual support, focusing on challenging landlords, financial speculation, and systemic housing inequalities across the region.
The Sindicat de Llogateres emphasizes autonomy and mutual aid, organizing tenants to negotiate collectively with landlords and resist evictions. The union also works closely with other housing movements to advocate for broader legislative changes, such as increasing the availability of regulated housing in new developments.
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Featured Project
This project empowers tenants to resist unjust evictions and rent increases through organized direct action. The strategy encourages tenants to stay in their homes even after rental contracts expire or when landlords refuse to renew them under fair terms. During this period, the union supports tenants by investigating landlords, organizing collective tenant assemblies, and engaging in negotiations to secure better rental conditions. The initiative is part of a broader effort to challenge housing precarity and promote tenant solidarity in Catalonia.
Through Ens Quedem, the union has successfully renegotiated leases and prevented evictions, showing how organized tenant resistance can push back against speculative practices and abusive landlords. The project exemplifies the union’s commitment to collective action as a path toward systemic change in the housing market.
References
Catalan News. (2022, March 21). Tenants’ union pushes authorities for stronger stance on rent cap law. Catalan News.
Shelterforce. (2021). This part of Spain has won rent regulations U.S. tenant activists can only dream of. Shelterforce.
La Vanguardia. (2017, May 11). “El primer objetivo del Sindicat de Llogaters es combatir la LAU”. La Vanguardia.
Spanish Property Insight. (2020). Catalonia introduces controversial rent control bill as prices decline. Spanish Property Insight.
Pérez, M., Sánchez-Moral, S., & Gibaja, J. (2018). Nuevas dinámicas de movilidad residencial en el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona: ¿hacia una mayor dispersión?. Papers: Regió Metropolitana de Barcelona: Territori, estratègies, planejament, (60), 60-79.
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