Move Aimed at Stabilizing Housing Costs and Improving Livability for Residents
Barcelona’s authorities have announced a plan to ban short-term apartment rentals to tourists by 2028. This radical measure is driven by the desire to stabilize rising housing costs and make the city more livable for its residents.
Mayor Jaume Collboni stated that by November 2028, licenses for 10,101 apartments currently registered for short-term rentals will be revoked.
The boom in short-term rentals in Barcelona, Spain’s most popular city among foreigners, has led to a situation where some residents can no longer afford housing. Over the past decade, rental prices have increased by 68%, while home purchase costs have risen by 38%, according to Mr. Collboni. The severe housing crisis has resulted in growing inequality, particularly affecting young people, he added.
Spain is among the top three most visited countries in the world, but local residents do not always benefit from this influx of tourists, making this issue an increasingly heated topic in Europe.
