Turning Tactics into Strategy: The Right to Stay Put and the Decommodification of Housing in Barcelona

Turning Tactics into Strategy: The Right to Stay Put and the Decommodification of Housing in Barcelona

The article, published by Housing, Critical, is authored by Luisa Rossini from the ICS University of Lisbon and Gabriele D'Adda from Politecnico di Torino. It addresses the severe impact of the 2007/2008 global financial crisis on semi-peripheral countries in the EU, particularly Spain, where recovery policies facilitated the entry of international financial actors into the real estate market. Such measures accelerated the financialization of housing, turning it into a speculative asset and leading to widespread mortgage repossessions and evictions.

The financialization of housing in Spain has resulted in a chronic lack of affordable housing, with Spain's social rental sector accounting for only 1.6% of total housing—well below the EU average of 9.3%. In Barcelona, this figure drops to just 1.5%. The situation has been exacerbated by the rise of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, which have intensified market speculation. The involvement of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) has further reshaped rental markets and fueled gentrification, significantly impacting lower- and middle-class residents.

In response to these challenges, grassroots movements in Barcelona have mobilized to defend housing rights. They have developed tactics that challenge dominant narratives around housing as a financial commodity. By advocating for the right of first refusal and pre-emption (tanteo y retracto), these movements have successfully countered evictions and contributed to the expansion of affordable and social housing.

The article discusses how these grassroots actors combine radical actions, such as occupations, with engagement in institutional channels, including policy negotiations and legislative advocacy. This dual approach has helped re-politicize urban planning and has transformed grassroots tactics into institutional strategies that resist financialization and promote alternative housing solutions.

The successful application of the right of first refusal has been seen in various paradigmatic cases, including the resistance at 'Casa Orsola,' where tenants organized to defend against eviction by a speculative investor. Their tactics included public denunciation campaigns and direct actions aimed at both the property owner and local administration, demonstrating the effectiveness of collective action.

While the right of first refusal presents a potential solution, the article highlights significant limitations. Municipalities must often purchase properties at full market value, which can be economically unfeasible. Additionally, bureaucratic constraints and limited municipal resources can hinder the effective application of this legal tool.

The article emphasizes that grassroots housing movements in Barcelona have successfully developed a range of tactics to resist housing financialization and promote more just urban futures. By asserting the right to stay put, they mobilize both direct action and legal tools to contest speculative urbanism, demonstrating the potential for grassroots movements to create sustainable housing solutions. The experiences and strategies discussed in Barcelona provide valuable insights for broader European contexts facing similar housing challenges.