Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni has declared his support for a ban on non-EU foreigners purchasing second homes in the city, a bold proposal aimed at curbing rampant real estate speculation and tackling the escalating price of housing. The move comes as public debate intensifies over an affordability crisis that is displacing long-term residents from their communities.
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In an interview with La2Cat, reported by El País, the mayor was unequivocal about his stance on foreign buyers using Barcelona’s property market for investment or as a holiday base. “I would prohibit it,” Collboni stated, specifically targeting non-EU citizens who purchase properties for use as a second residence or for speculative purposes.
Collboni described the buyers as “super-rich” individuals who collect properties around the world and “want to have a little flat in Barcelona” for their holidays. He argued this practice is hollowing out entire communities, pointing to the city’s iconic Eixample district as a prime example. According to the mayor, many buildings in the area have “semi-empty stairwells” with apartments that sit unoccupied for most of the year.
“For those who buy to speculate on rentals, the party’s over in Barcelona,” Collboni asserted forcefully, as also noted by Diari Catalunya.
The mayor acknowledged that such a ban would face significant legal and constitutional hurdles. The Catalan government is currently reviewing four expert reports on how to tackle speculative property purchases. One report, by housing law expert Pablo Feu, suggests using urban planning regulations to prevent the city from losing residential housing stock to other uses or to high-income foreign buyers.
While a complete ban is his preferred option, Collboni noted that other measures, such as doubling taxes for non-resident buyers, are also being considered. However, he stressed his desire for a more decisive approach to solve what has become a severe housing crisis.
New Aid for Vulnerable Residents
In parallel with his hard-line stance on speculation, Collboni announced a new direct aid programme from the Barcelona City Council. The city will offer a €400 payment to help vulnerable residents over the age of 55 and single-parent families at risk of losing their homes. The measure is designed to alleviate the rental burden for households that spend more than a third of their income on housing.
“The goal is to prevent people with economic difficulties and at risk of losing their home from becoming homeless,” the mayor explained. He emphasised that the aid is for those where “the investment made by the family unit is greater than a third of their income.”
This initiative directly addresses the impact of the housing crisis on some of the city’s most vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly. Despite many older residents owning their properties, a growing number are forced to share flats or, in the worst cases, face homelessness due to rising costs.
The dual announcements signal a multi-faceted strategy from the mayor’s office: to restrict the speculative demand driving up prices while simultaneously providing a safety net for those most affected by the current market conditions. As the city awaits the regional government’s next steps, Collboni has sent a clear message to international investors. “Those who are making speculative purchases, especially foreigners, should know that the free ride is over,” he warned.
