Short-term rentals in Barcelona are checking out! As the Spanish city aims to prioritize housing rights as policy, there is a plan to ban short-term rentals by 2028 to curb overtourism and improve livability for residents.
Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, intends to revoke licenses for the city’s 10,101 short-term rental apartments by November 2028, citing a housing crisis exacerbated by rising rents and property prices. The city’s surge in short-term rentals, driven by its status as Spain’s top destination, has increased rents by 68% and home prices by 38% in the last decade, making housing unaffordable for many residents, particularly young adults.
What does this mean for tourists?
Tourists heading to Barcelona might find fewer short-stay options in residential areas if the proposed ban goes through. This shift could encourage more regulated hotels and long-term rentals, aiming for a sustainable tourism approach that travelers will have to adapt to. Previously, there was a ban on new hotels opening in Barcelona’s prime locations from 2015 to 2023, but Collboni has hinted at a possible relaxation of these restrictions.