Madrid hosts The District real-estate fair amid official support and tenant protests

The District real-estate fair arrived in Madrid, officially opened by President Isabel Díaz-Ayuso, who praised the city’s supportive regulatory framework for investors. Juan Velayos, president of The District, said Madrid offers a more business-friendly climate than Barcelona and emphasized the importance of capital for housing supply. While the Spanish government and the European Commission are listed as institutional partners, they did not attend the opening.

Tenant organisations, including the Sindicato de Inquilinas, plan an alternative summit, El Barrio, and anticipate boycotts and protests against the fair. The timing coincides with a high-profile eviction case of an 87-year-old resident, Maricarmen, sparking further debate over rent hikes and housing affordability. Critics argue that real-estate funds and flexible-living models are driving up prices and reducing ordinary rental stock, while industry representatives point to Madrid’s larger housing inventory.