Barcelona, one of the main tourist destinations in Spain, announced this Friday that it will prohibit the rental of apartments to tourists by 2028.
This unexpectedly drastic measure aims stop the rise in housing prices and make the city more liveable for residents.
During the two terms of former mayor Ada Colau (2015-2023), a urban plan that only allowed new hotels to be opened in the periphery, which caused a significant impact on the rental market Of short duration.
The need for a sustainable tourism and avoiding this growth in the supply of tourist apartments that brings with it the increase in housing prices for locals is the origin of this measure. In the last 10 years rent in Barcelona has risen around 70% and housing prices have increased an average of 40%.
The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has announced that will revoke the 10,101 licenses which currently operate as vacation rentals for November 2028.
It is not a measure to everyone’s taste
The decision to ban tourist apartments has generated controversy and is expected to trigger a legal battle.
He Popular Party (PP) has already appealed before the Constitutional Court the decree of the Generalitat that seeks to close thousands of homes for tourist use before 2028. In addition, the Apartur employers’ association is considering appealing to European justice.
In short, Barcelona is taking steps to address the challenges of tourist overcrowding and guarantee a balance between tourism and the quality of life of its inhabitants. The ban on tourist apartments It is a significant step in that direction and not just a problem of this citysince we have seen how it is a global problem.
