Spain's housing movement is preparing a general strike over access to housing, with the Sindicato de Inquilinas saying the action will take place in November as pressure grows over rents, housing costs and wages.

The announcement came on Monday, October 5, after the Spanish Government called an early general election for November 29.

Alicia del Río, spokesperson for the Sindicato de Inquilinas de Madrid, said the organisation was working towards a general strike during November and insisted that the housing movement would not allow the electoral calendar to determine its agenda.

However, at the time of her announcement, no exact date had been agreed.

Date Still to Be Confirmed

Del Río said the organisation was continuing discussions with the major trade unions and expected the date to be confirmed in the following days.

The Sindicato de Inquilinas has been pushing for a nationwide general strike as part of its campaign over the housing crisis.

Its demands include stronger protection for tenants, permanent rental contracts, substantial reductions in rental prices and measures targeting investment funds that the organisation says contribute to housing speculation.

The movement says the demands have already spread to more than 50 cities across Spain.

CCOO and UGT Agree to a 24-Hour Strike

Later on Monday, Spain's two largest trade union confederations, CCOO and UGT, announced that they had agreed to call a 24-hour general strike this autumn.

Their agreement still requires ratification by their respective highest governing bodies.

The unions said the final date would be discussed with social organisations and the Sindicato de Inquilinas.

Their stated objective is to demand wages that allow workers to access adequate housing and to place the right to housing at the centre of negotiations with employers and public administrations.

The two developments therefore represent an important escalation of the housing mobilisation, but the exact date of the national strike remains pending.

Housing at the Centre of the Dispute

The proposed strike follows weeks of demonstrations over the cost and availability of housing across Spain.

CCOO and UGT have connected their action to both housing and collective bargaining.

Their proposals include salary increases of between 4% and 7% within their proposed VI Agreement for Employment and Collective Bargaining, together with salary-review clauses and measures designed to facilitate access to housing.

The unions are also calling for a social and political agreement on housing, a permanent public housing stock, limits on rental prices and effective implementation of Spain's Housing Rights Law.

The Housing Movement Wants More Than Wage Increases

The Sindicato de Inquilinas is taking a broader position on the housing crisis.

Among its demands are permanent rental contracts, a significant reduction in rents and the expropriation of properties held by what it describes as vulture funds.

Del Río has also called for other organised groups, including those campaigning around healthcare, pensions, education and wages, to join the mobilisation.

The organisation argues that housing should be treated as a right rather than primarily as an investment or source of profit.

Those are the positions of the housing movement and should be understood as its political and social demands, rather than as established government policy.

Early Election Changes the Timing

The strike discussions are taking place against the backdrop of an early general election scheduled for November 29, 2026.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the election on October 5, the same day that the Sindicato de Inquilinas publicly reaffirmed its plans for a November strike.

Del Río said the housing movement would not wait for the electoral calendar.

The Sindicato de Inquilinas has indicated that the strike will take place during November, but has not yet specified the day.

CCOO and UGT have also said they will not schedule their action during the official electoral campaign. UGT Secretary General Pepe Álvarez indicated that November remained a possible period for the strike while ruling out the campaign period itself.

Protests Continue

The announcement follows demonstrations in cities across Spain over the weekend calling for action on housing.

The Sindicato de Inquilinas has also maintained its housing protest camp in Madrid's Puerta del Sol.

Del Río said there was currently no date for the end of the encampment and that its future would be decided by the camp's general assembly.

The organisation considers the protest an important organising space for the wider housing movement.

What Happens Next

The next major step will be agreeing the exact date and organising the nationwide action.

For the Sindicato de Inquilinas, the stated objective is a general strike in November.

For CCOO and UGT, the agreed position is a 24-hour general strike this autumn, with the date still to be determined and subject to ratification by their governing bodies.

The final date, participating organisations, detailed demands and practical arrangements therefore remain to be confirmed.

For now, what is clear is that Spain's housing movement has gained the backing of the country's two largest trade union confederations for a 24-hour general strike, marking a significant expansion of the campaign over access to housing and the relationship between wages and housing costs.