Barcelona Plans to Ban Tourist Apartment Rentals to Ease the Housing Crisis
The Spanish city of Barcelona, one of Europe’s top tourist destinations, has announced a plan to ban apartment rentals to tourists by November 2028. The move, announced by Mayor Jaume Collboni, aims to alleviate the longstanding housing crisis, lower prices for residents, improve livability, and increase the city’s affordable housing stock. Over the past 10 years, the rise in short-term rentals has driven rents up by 68%, and the cost of buying a house by 38%, contributing significantly to a cost-ofliving crisis.
The limited access to housing for residents became a driver of inequality. Now the city aims to eliminate the 10,101 tourist apartments once their license expires in a maximum of four years. The emptied apartments are expected to be used by residents, reentering the market as long-term rentals or sales opportunities. Since 2026, no new tourist apartment licenses have been issued, and over 3,500 apartments have already been recovered as primary housing for residents. The local government stated that it will maintain a strict inspection regime to detect illegal practices once the ban is instated.
