Structural racism hinders access to housing in Mataró, report warns

A government study highlights racial segregation and discriminatory practices by real estate agents in Catalonia.

Generic image of an apartment building with rent signs in the windows.
IA

Generic image of an apartment building with rent signs in the windows.

The Office for Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination handled 425 complaints in 2025, the highest number since its creation in Catalonia.

Director Noa Monràs presented a report focusing on housing discrimination. A notable case involved a real estate agency in Mataró, which was fined 10,000 euros for refusing to rent an apartment to a person based on their ethnic background.

"Statistical invisibility is political invisibility."

Noa Monràs · Director General for Human Rights
The study Report for the anti-racist transformation of the housing sector argues that 'neutral' laws often reproduce stereotypes. Researchers Marc Borràs-Batalla and Aliou Diallo found that intermediaries frequently exclude non-white applicants, leading to racial segregation in urban areas.