Málaga mayor's remarks on Spain's housing prices spark criticism

The mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre, argues that rising housing prices are a problem for those who do not own a home, and not a problem for those who already do. The remark paints a picture of a market that rewards owners and squeezes tenants.

The mayor of Málaga, **Francisco de la Torre**, has said publicly that the rising cost of housing looks different depending on which side of the door you are on: "it is a problem for those who don't have a home", but "for those who own a home, it is not a problem".

## Who wins and who loses from the rise

Anyone who has already paid off their home or has their mortgage under control does not lose purchasing power as prices rise. Quite the opposite: the value of their assets grows, a wealth effect they only cash in when selling or borrowing.

For those renting or looking for their first home, the same rise works against them: every extra euro in housing costs is a euro less for everything else, and saving for a deposit becomes harder.

## A message with little electoral cost

**De la Torre** has governed Málaga for the **Partido Popular** (Spain's conservative party) since 2000. In a country where most households are homeowners, saying that rising prices do not distress owners hardly costs any votes.

The cost falls on the other group: tenants and young people who see housing prices as the first wall standing in the way of their adult lives.

It is worth remembering that housing prices depend on many factors and are not decided by a single public official.