Barcelona short-term rental regulation will be enforced immediately following parliamentary approval, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced.

The city aims to close a major loophole in rental price controls, as contracts surged 60% in a year.

Mayor Demands Rigorous Short-Term Rental Enforcement

Mayor Collboni urged the Catalan government to ensure strict inspection and enforcement of the new rules.

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He described short-term contracts as the “point of leakage” undermining Barcelona’s broader rental price limitations. Consequently, the city council will apply the regulation without delay.

The move comes as data reveals a dramatic shift in the rental market. Between March 2024 and March 2025, short-term rental contracts in Barcelona increased by 60%. Furthermore, they represented 28% of all contracts signed in the second quarter of 2025.

This explosive growth, according to the mayor, evidences “a fraudulent leak” towards these contracts to evade regulated prices. The council’s immediate application of the law, therefore, aims to restore integrity to the housing market.

Local political groups have pressured for swift action. Janet Sanz, leader of BComú, reminded the mayor that municipal regulations agreed with the PSC could have been applied already. Meanwhile, ERC’s Jordi Coronas demanded more inspection capacity to prevent the rule from becoming “worthless paper.”

Parallel Planning and European Housing Success

The city intends to continue working on a parallel modification to its Metropolitan General Plan (MPGM). This could prohibit, limit, or restrict short-term rentals entirely. The council had previously begun this process but awaited legal validation and clarity on how it would coexist with the new parliamentary law.

Mayor Collboni also celebrated the new European Affordable Housing Plan. He highlighted the success of the ‘Mayors for Housing’ initiative, which Barcelona leads. This campaign successfully placed housing “fully” on the European agenda.

Key aspects of the European plan include recognising the concept of stressed housing areas and addressing speculation. Cities will now have greater participation in housing policy. Collboni noted that just a year ago, ten mayors sent a letter to the European Commission demanding action. “A year later we have a whole plan,” he emphasised.

The mayor assured that cities will be “very attentive” to the plan’s deployment in coming months, particularly its financial aspects. This local action on short-term rentals forms part of a broader struggle against housing unaffordability, a challenge highlighted by recent reports on Barcelona’s sharp urban wealth gap.

Ultimately, the immediate Barcelona short-term rental crackdown represents a critical step. It addresses a specific market distortion while aligning with wider European efforts to secure affordable housing for residents.

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