Struggling for Housing in Madrid: Using Water Guns as a Means of Protest
In the heart of southeastern Madrid lies the vibrant Vallecas neighbourhood, home to approximately 240,000 residents who share a strong sense of social cohesion. One of the unique traditions that bind this community together is the annual "Battle of Vallecas," an event that has been a staple since 1982.
Contrary to misconceptions, the "Battle of Vallecas" is not a violent spectacle. Instead, it is a playful event where residents plunge into battle with their water guns, filling them at drinking fountains or water-filled trash cans. While it started as a simple neighbourhood tradition, it has evolved over the years to serve a greater purpose: drawing attention to the precarious situation in the real estate market.
The Battle of Vallecas 2025, known as the Batalla Naval Vallecas, notably included the participation of key local housing activist groups such as the PAH (Plataforma de Afectadas por la Hipoteca) of Vallecas and the Coordinadora de AAVV de Vallecas. These groups, known for fighting against speculative housing models and supporting precarious housing issues, were given the role of delivering the opening speech (pregón) for the event, highlighting their community activism on housing and proposing alternatives to speculation-driven real estate markets.
While the Batalla Naval Vallecas itself is not explicitly a housing protest or market intervention, it has become a platform where significant community efforts related to housing precarity and real estate speculation in Madrid, especially in Vallecas, are publicly acknowledged and amplified by housing activists during the event.
Unfortunately, the precarious housing situation in Vallecas is not just a spectacle. Residents like Miriam are facing eviction due to changes in land ownership and the conversion of apartments into tourist accommodations. Miriam's apartment, owned by "Nuevos Inversiones S.L.," was sold due to undeclared rental income, leading to her eviction.
The PAH initiative in Vallecas now primarily focuses on supporting those on the verge of losing their rental apartments. Israel, a member of the PAH, advises those facing eviction to delay the process and use the argument of social hardship to postpone it until the end of the year.
Elena Ortega, the inclusion officer at a secondary school, shares experiences with students exhibiting behavioural issues due to housing insecurity. The high unemployment rate in Vallecas, according to recent statistics, further exacerbates these issues.
Despite these challenges, the spirit of Vallecas remains resilient. Miriam, after finding a new place, is determined to continue fighting for housing rights with the PAH and her neighbours. The Vallecas neighbourhood also boasts the most registered associations, according to the left-wing party Más Madrid on their website.
For those seeking strong insights into community efforts addressing precarious housing and real estate markets in Vallecas/Madrid, it would be best to follow PAH Vallekas and related neighbourhood associations directly, as well as city housing policy reports for more comprehensive and dedicated accounts.
In the midst of their annual water fight, the Battle of Vallecas, residents and housing activist groups like PAH and Coordinadora de AAVV use the event as a platform to shed light on the precarious housing situation in Vallecas, particularly the fight against speculative housing models and evictions. Despite the precariousness of housing and high unemployment rate, the spirit of the Vallecas community remains resilient, with individuals like Miriam continuing to fight for their housing rights.
