Spain’s housing crisis deepens as locals forced to live in lorries

Spain’s worsening housing crisis is pushing some residents into increasingly desperate living arrangements, with growing numbers forced to make homes out of lorries, vans and caravans as rents continue to spiral. Across the country, workers who once hoped to rent or buy a home are instead turning to vehicles and makeshift accommodation after being priced out of the market.

The shortage of affordable housing has become one of Spain’s most pressing social issues, with demand far outstripping supply. In some cases, people have converted vans into permanent homes to avoid paying rents that consume most of their income. Others are living in motorhomes on the outskirts of major cities while continuing to work full-time. The problem is particularly acute in popular urban areas where rental costs have surged in recent years, not helped by high visitor numbers.

One Malaga resident – a city which saw over 1.8 million hotel visitors in 2025 – known only as Maria told a local news site – Malaga Hoy – that she has been living in a campervan in Teatinos with her partner since January after being evicted from her rental property.

“When I went to look for another place, the prices were outrageous. I had no other option,” she said, explaining that both she and her partner work and earn similar salaries of around €1,200 (£1,037) a month, but renting in Malaga has become unaffordable.

“There are tiny apartments for €750. More uncomfortable than my van,” she added. “If you pay €1,200 in rent, what’s left? You work to live, but you’re left with nothing.”

In Sacaba, an urban beach district in Malaga, about 100 people now live in campervans and motorhomes on a former industrial plot, and it has grown significantly over the past year after overnight campervan stays in other parts of the city were banned. In response, Malaga’s town hall said it intends to purchase the land and introduce measures to limit vehicle access.

Even more shockingly, the shortage of affordable homes has sparked a market for old Lays crisp lorries, which are being rented out for €300 (£259) to €400 (£345) a month to people struggling to find somewhere to live, The Olive Press reported.

The rise in motorhome settlements comes as Malaga’s rental market reaches breaking point, with soaring housing costs forcing some residents to seek alternative places to live. The province has overtaken Madrid to become the second-most-expensive place to rent in Spain, with only the Balearic Islands recording higher average rents. Rental prices in Malaga have surged by 12.7% over the past year, pushing the average monthly cost to €1,232 (£1,065).