1,500 March in Andorra la Vella Against Rent Control Phase-Out

Around 1,500 people marched through central Andorra la Vella on Saturday evening against the government's draft law to phase out rent controls, calling it an "expulsion programme" that could trigger mass evictions as leases expire from 2027.

Organised by the Sindicat d’Habitatge d’Andorra (SHA) with support from the Unió Sindical d’Andorra (USdA), the protest drew families, workers, young people, pensioners and residents from multiple parishes. Crowds gathered from 7pm at the Km 0 roundabout, with the march setting off around 7:30pm via Carrer de la Unió, Avinguda Meritxell, Bonaventura Armengol, Prat de la Creu and concluding at the Govern roundabout by 9pm. Chants rang out including "Espot tururú, a la Seu te’n vas tu", "Andorra és casa meva i no vull marxar", "Ni gent sense casa, ni casa sense gent", "Volem regulin els lloguers" and "Govern, escolta, el poble és revolta". Banners read "Aquest cartell té més metres quadrats que un pis" and "És més fàcil trobar nòvio que trobar pis". A large sit-in blocked Avinguda Meritxell traffic, and protesters paused outside the Govern building. Police recorded a peak of 1,200 attendees; organisers estimated 1,400 to 2,000. The event remained peaceful, with road closures, bus diversions via Carretera de l’Obac, five police vans and seven traffic officers present.

Pre-march preparations included Thursday coordination with police, Civil Protection and traffic authorities, Friday banner workshops and Saturday info pickets targeting workplaces where eviction notices had arrived. SHA spokesperson Rebeca Bonache described it as a historic "turning point" akin to December 2023, urging maximum turnout ahead of a now-rescheduled Wednesday meeting with Demòcrates per Andorra (DA). She warned of escalating actions—parish protests, blockades or more—if demands go unmet, stressing 2027 as a deadline. "It's now or never," Bonache said, pushing a single price index per square metre to eliminate dual markets, no evictions without dignified local alternatives beyond pensions or shared rooms, and indefinite leases as standard.

Demands, unchanged since 5 April and delivered to DA and Ciutadans Compromesos (CC), seek extensions for 2021 contracts ending 2027-2030 despite higher rents already paid; moderated hikes tied to property values and tenant incomes; bans on indirect evictions via worker housing or sales to owner-occupiers without safeguards; automatic probes into "trampa del fill" family recovery claims, with fraud fines, tenant reinstatement and compensation; a public property registry; full housing census; room rental rules; and better mediation. Exemptions apply to rentals over €2,500 monthly or single-family homes.

USdA leader Gabriel Ubach called for a "180-degree turn" in housing, wages and social policies, linking stagnant pay to soaring costs eroding the middle class. He highlighted €2,000-2,500 rents displacing youth and pensioners, demanded €2,500 minimum wages indexed to inflation and IPC, opposed pension privatisation and sought an EU association referendum. "The housing conflict is already here," he said, as previously flagged to the Consell Econòmic i Social. Ubach criticised the government for creating the crisis and insisted on solutions before deregulation, warning against further middle-class decline.

Opposition figures attended, including Concòrdia’s Cerni Escalé and Núria Segués, and Partit Socialdemòcrata’s Pere Baró and Laia Moliné. Baró called the turnout proof of public exhaustion, urging tenant protections and law revisions in committee.

On Sunday, after the Esport per a Tothom race, Head of Government Xavier Espot described the law as "protective, guaranteeing, balanced and measured". He respected the protest—despite lower turnout than earlier events—and rejected "expulsion" rhetoric as polarising, comparable to pre-law eviction notices. The plan includes a 3-4 year phase-out after extensions, with change-of-contract caps, positioned midway between full controls and free markets. Espot signalled limited scope for major changes post-consultations, noting dialogue shaped the text. He acknowledged housing as citizens' top concern but defended the gradual approach, with sanctions for non-compliant owners.

DA's Jordi Jordana welcomed the Wednesday SHA meeting but cautioned against false hopes, backing progressive deregulation alongside Òmnibus laws and public housing. Andorra Endavant’s Carine Montaner blamed DA policies for a "disastrous" crisis, with people resorting to rooms, cars or tents, and small owners selling amid rising maintenance costs and shrinking supply.

SHA's Sunday statement countered Espot, attributing anxiety to 2027 uncertainties rather than protesters' words, and pledged intensified action absent firm commitments. Bonache post-march hailed it as evidence of growing anger, vowing relentless pressure for a regulated market and viewing union talks as a test. The group called the event a "turning point" from months of Taula d’Habitatge work.

No further official actions are confirmed beyond upcoming meetings.