At least fifty rental property adverts published during one month in Barcelona could be illegal. A study by the Tenants’ Union identified fifty fraudulent housing offers published through platforms like Idealista during May alone, referring to properties in Eixample, Gràcia and Horta-Guinardó districts.
Most of the adverts belonged to flats managed by estate agencies, with 35 different companies identified, whilst four were from private landlords. The pro-housing organisation reported these 35 companies and four individuals to the Catalan Consumer Agency and Catalan Housing Agency for advertising offers that breach current rental regulations, mainly by omitting mandatory information.
State regulations applicable since 28 January 2025 classify it as a serious infringement not to include in rental advertising either the reference price set by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda or the amount of rent from the last tenancy contract. If the property is located in a neighbourhood classified as a stressed residential market area, the advert must state whether the landlord is a large holder. Failing to meet these requirements carries fines between 9,001 and 90,000 euros.
Of the fifty illegal adverts identified, 46 belonged to estate agencies. The companies with most fraudulent offers published are Uniplaces, a La Caixa Foundation company, with six adverts, and Engel & Völkers Barcelona, with five properties. According to TOT Barcelona, some of the reported offers are still active, such as a 44-square-metre one-bedroom flat on Marquesa de Caldes de Montbui street in Guinardó neighbourhood. The property continues to be advertised without the minimum required information at a price of 1,500 euros per month.
Enric Aragonès, spokesperson for the Tenants’ Union, noted that since the rental regulation came into force, no sanctions have been imposed for breaches.
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