Rising rents and strong competition in the housing market are driving more people towards room rentals. According to a study by idealista, the average number of contacts per room has dropped to 22 interested people, lower than for whole properties, thanks to a 24% increase in available supply over the past year.
In the second quarter, Palma recorded the highest demand, with 65 contacts per listing, followed by San Sebastián (62), Tarragona (46) and Vitoria (39).
Several cities remain above the national average for room rental demand. Girona leads with 39 contacts per listing, followed by Málaga (38), Lleida (35), Bilbao (35), Cádiz (30), A Coruña (29), Huelva (28), Santander (26), Guadalajara (26), Seville (25), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (24) and Huesca (23).
Barcelona sits exactly at the national average, with 22 interested parties per listing, while Madrid registers slightly less at 20.
At the other end of the scale, competition is not as severe. Córdoba, Salamanca and Castellón see just nine contacts per listing, while Melilla averages 10. Cuenca, Ceuta and Soria complete the list of least competitive markets, with only 11 people vying for each room.
National demand for room sharing falls
Nationwide, interest per room has fallen by 2%, yet demand has risen in 34 provincial capitals. The sharpest increase was in Logroño, where competition more than doubled (+114%). Among the larger markets, Seville (+48%) and Alicante (+8%) also saw notable rises.
By contrast, several dynamic markets registered declines. San Sebastián (-3%), Bilbao (-10%), Madrid (-13%) and Málaga (-19%) all saw weakened competition. The steepest falls were recorded in Palma, Barcelona and Valencia, each down by 28%.
The figures come from idealista/data, the group’s proptech subsidiary, which compiles and analyses information for professionals across Spain, Italy and Portugal. Drawing on idealista’s own database alongside public and private sources, it provides services in valuation, investment, fundraising and market analysis.