UK also faces a shortage of affordable housing

The shortage of affordable housing also affects the United Kingdom. In west London, three-bedroom flats are quoted at more than £4,000 a month, while sharing a four-bedroom home can still cost a little over £3,000. In Edinburgh, a five-bedroom flat, often shared by students and about a twenty-minute walk from the historic centre, also does not fall below £3,000, even with shortcomings such as a lack of double glazing.

The problem combines high demand in major cities, limited supply in well-connected areas and a highly strained rental market. London is one of Europe’s most expensive housing markets, and Edinburgh also faces pressure from students, tourism and urban employment.

For Spanish readers, the case shows that rental pressure is not an isolated phenomenon. It has no direct effect here, but it helps place the debate on prices, supply and shared housing in a wider context.