The secretary-generals of the CCOO, Unai Sordo, and of the UGT, Pepe Álvarez, unveiled a trade union initiative on Monday that proposes limiting the average rental cost in those areas where it exceeds 25% or 30% of the average household income.
For both leaders, this measure is necessary to guarantee the population’s access to housing at a “reasonable” price. Sordo recalled that the average monthly rent in the country is around 674 euros per month, although there are large variations between areas. “For 55% of households, paying the average rental price means allocating more than one third of their monthly income to rent,” said the secretary-general of the CCOO.
Both the CCOO and the UGT propose compiling reliable official statistics, with as much territorial detail as possible, to reflect the average rental cost and then cross-referencing it with the average earnings in that location. This data could be used to cap rental prices.
