The archive
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Investigations, data drops and field notes on what it costs to live — ordered newest first.
Investigation
2026-09-12
Madrid: the city that raised its rent 35% and called it normal
Five years, one third more expensive. We walked Lavapiés, Vallecas and Tetuán to ask the people still holding on how they do it.
Madrid · 8 min read
+35%
Avg. rent increase since 2021
Follow-up
2026-08-28
Barcelona said it would ban tourist flats. So where did they go?
The city's celebrated crackdown promised thousands of homes back on the market. We followed the paper trail — and found a lot of 'temporary' rentals instead.
Barcelona · 6 min read
10,101
Tourist licences to be revoked by 2028
Data
2026-08-10
Priced out of Barcelona, priced out of Valencia: the spillover reaches the port
Valencia was supposed to be the affordable escape. Rents there rose faster than anywhere else in Spain last year.
Valencia · 5 min read
+18%
YoY rent growth, Valencia city
Field notes
2026-07-22
Málaga now has more tourist beds than hospital beds
A walk through the historic centre where the doorbells have keypads and the corner shops have become luggage lockers.
Málaga · 7 min read
12,400+
Registered tourist flats
Beyond Spain
2026-07-03
Beyond Spain: what Lisbon and Berlin learned the hard way
Rent caps, referendums, and expropriation votes. Two cities that fought back — and what their victories and failures teach the Spanish movement.
Lisbon / Berlin · 9 min read
59%
Berliners who voted to expropriate big landlords