Five municipalities in the Barcelona metropolitan area will prohibit tourist flats by 2028. This decision mirrors Barcelona city’s recent move. It aims to tackle housing market strain. Short-term rental accommodations will be completely eliminated. This applies to L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Cornellà de Llobregat, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, and Esplugues de Llobregat.
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L’Hospitalet de Llobregat has 523 tourist flats. It is the province’s second-largest hub for such accommodations after Barcelona. Sant Adrià de Besòs, eight kilometres from the capital, currently has around 280 tourist homes. This municipality limited new licences early. It acted before the Generalitat’s decree. That decree mandates urban planning licences for tourist use housing.
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Cornellà de Llobregat has fewer than 100 tourist flats. It stopped issuing new licences in 2023. From 2028, it will not renew any existing ones. Sant Feliu de Llobregat has 15 tourist homes. It also ceased granting new licences in 2028. These properties are expected to disappear in the coming years. Esplugues de Llobregat has fewer than 20 tourist accommodations. It has approved a moratorium. The town plans to eliminate all of them.
These local councils share a common rationale. Tourist flats exacerbate the housing market. They reduce the supply of long-term rental properties. They also drive up prices for residents. Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni announced the city’s ban almost two years ago. It targets the closure of over 10,500 tourist accommodations by 2028. This decision has created a ripple effect. It prompts neighbouring towns to adopt similar measures.
Divergent Approaches in the Metropolitan Area
However, not all Barcelona metropolitan municipalities have adopted this strict approach. El Prat de Llobregat and Sant Cugat del Vallès will maintain existing licences. They will do so under stringent conditions. They are not planning complete elimination. Meanwhile, Cerdanyola del Vallès and Santa Coloma de Gramenet have not yet debated the issue.
Badalona’s Mayor, Xavier García Albiol, initially intended to ban tourist flats entirely. He later clarified his position. New tourist accommodations would not be permitted. However, Badalona will retain its 223 existing tourist properties. This nuanced approach aims to prevent the “centrifugation effect.” This effect suggests Barcelona’s ban might displace tourist pressure onto nearby towns.
Impact on Barcelona’s Housing Market
These municipalities’ collective decision highlights a growing concern. It addresses the sustainability of mass tourism. It also considers its impact on local residents. Barcelona’s Eixample district is a densely populated area. It has over 260,000 residents. This district has experienced significant housing market pressure. This is due to the proliferation of tourist rentals. Coordinated action across the metropolitan area seeks a more balanced housing ecosystem.
Existing licences will expire over the next four years. These five municipalities anticipate a gradual reduction in tourist accommodation availability. This coordinated effort aims to free up residential properties. It could potentially ease rental prices. It also aims to increase housing options for local residents across the Barcelona metropolitan region.
Originally published by 20 Minutos Barcelona. Read original article.
