The Barcelona City Council, in collaboration with the College of Property Administrators and the Urban Property Chamber, is launching a program to provide free legal and technical support to housing communities seeking to ban tourist apartments in their buildings. This initiative, part of a budget agreement with the ERC party, includes:
1. Amending building statutes:
- Prohibiting commercial activities (including short-term rentals) requires approval by three-fifths of property owners, backed by Supreme Court rulings.
2. Subsidies from the Municipal Housing Institute (IMHB):
- Funding for drafting or updating statutes to restrict non-residential use of apartments.
3. Awareness campaign:
- Educating residents about their rights and legal tools.
Context and key figures:
- Barcelona has 10,101 tourist apartments, with 60% operating without a license.
- Mayor Jaume Collboni announced a phase-out of all tourist apartments by November 2028 to curb rising rents and reclaim housing for locals.
Catalonia to double the tourist tax:
- Rates up to €15 per person per night in Barcelona.
- 25% of revenue will fund affordable housing programs.
Goal: Balance tourism with residents’ rights to affordable housing and a sustainable community environment.
