Catalonia has extended rent control measures to include short-term rentals (e.g., vacation homes) and room rentals, subjecting them to the same price caps as long-term rentals in areas with a strained housing market. The decree, backed by PSC-Units, ERC, Comuns, and CUP but opposed by Junts, PP, Vox, and Aliança Catalana, deems contracts with misleading clauses as fraudulent.
Market Impact:
- Barcelona leads in short-term rental share (43% of listings), followed by Girona (26%), Tarragona (20%), and Lleida (5%).
- Long-term rental supply in Barcelona fell by 26% in 2024, while short-term rentals rose by 31%. Other cities saw sharper increases: Girona (+167%), Tarragona (+57%), Lleida (+82%).
Since 2020, Barcelona’s long-term rental stock has plummeted by 58.1%, worsened by the Housing Law.
Room Rentals:
Barcelona is Spain’s most expensive city for rooms (€620/month, +17% annually), surpassing Madrid (€565). Nationally, room listings grew by 22%, but declined in Girona (-22%) and Lleida (-6%).
Affordable Housing and Government Powers:
- Affordable housing status in stressed areas is now indefinite.
- Municipalities can waive parking space requirements for new social housing.
- Authorities gain expanded pre-emption rights over large landlords’ properties.
Deposits managed by Incasòl will fund public rental housing construction.
Goal: The government states these measures aim to “balance the market, ensure transparency, and address housing shortages” amid record-low supply and high demand.