Barcelona stops leasing apartments to foreign tourists
In a bold move by the city's progressive mayor, Jaume Collboni, Barcelona intends to revoke the permits for the 10,101 short-term rental apartments currently operating by November 2028.
Collboni expressed this during a city government gathering, stating, "We're tackling what we consider Barcelona's greatest issue."
The surge in short-term rentals in Barcelona, one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations, has caused a substantial increase in rental prices (an astounding 68% over the past decade) and home buying costs (up by 38%). This situation, Collboni argued, has resulted in local residents struggling to find affordable housing, exacerbating inequality, particularly among young people.
The economic advantages of tourism, enjoyed by national governments, often come at the expense of local residents in some regions, leading to gentrification and preferential treatment of tourist rentals. This topic has gained considerable attention across Europe.
Local administrations have implemented limitations on short-term rentals in places like Spain's Canary Islands, Lisbon, and Berlin over the past decade.
Spain's Socialist housing minister, Isabel Rodriguez, voiced her support for this action. "It's about taking all necessary steps to ensure access to reasonably priced housing," she shared on X.
Airbnb, a popular vacation rental platform with many Barcelona listings, did not provide an immediate comment when approached.
APARTUR, Barcelona's tourist apartments association, countered Collboni's decision by stating it would lead to increased poverty and unemployment. The ban, they warned, would also spark a rise in clandestine tourist apartments.
Hotels may stand to gain from this shift, as new hotel construction in popular areas of the city has been prohibited by a far-left political party since 2015 to 2023. However, Collboni signaled potential relaxation of this restriction.
Barcelona's hotel association remained silent on the recent announcement.
Collboni asserted, "These 10,000 apartments will either be used by the city's residents or put up for rent or sale."
Barcelona's local government announced it would maintain its rigorous inspection system to identify potential illegal tourist apartments once the ban is enforced.
The city has halted the issuance of new tourist apartment permits in recent years. Since 2016, the local government has closed 9,700 illegal tourist apartments and reclaimed almost 3,500 apartments for use as primary residences for local residents.
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This decision to revoke permits for short-term rental apartments could potentially reduce the number of tourists visiting Barcelona, resulting in less travel to the city.
Barcelona's focus on revitalizing its housing market and providing affordable options for local residents might discourage some travelers who rely on short-term rental platforms like Airbnb during their trips.
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