Barcelona tourist apartments are at the centre of a major legal battle as owners challenge the city’s plan to eliminate all 10,000 licences by 2028.
According to El País, property owners have taken their case to European courts, arguing Mayor Jaume Collboni’s policy amounts to unlawful expropriation.
Furthermore, the Association of Tourist Apartments of Barcelona (Apartur) has filed claims totalling €4.25 billion against the Catalan government.
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This figure includes projected lost earnings and investments that will never materialise under the proposed ban.
Barcelona Tourist Apartments: The Legal Strategy
Marian Muro, Apartur’s director general, explains they’re pursuing a preliminary ruling from the EU Court of Justice. Consequently, they believe the licence cancellation violates European legal principles. “We trust the court will declare this expropriation illegal,” Muro stated in an interview.
Meanwhile, the association argues officials have misdiagnosed the impact of tourist apartments on Barcelona’s housing crisis. They claim many properties would remain vacant rather than entering the residential market due to legal uncertainties around non-payment and occupation issues.
Additionally, tourist apartments play a crucial role during major events like the Mobile World Congress. With only 77,000 hotel beds available, the city relies on these properties to accommodate over 146,000 visitors during peak periods. Therefore, eliminating them could threaten Barcelona’s ability to host large international events.
The legal challenge comes amid broader discussions about Barcelona’s housing and residency policies. However, tourist apartment owners maintain their sector represents just a fraction of the city’s vacant properties, with over 58,000 empty homes potentially available for residential use.
A commissioned PwC report supports their position, suggesting the ban would be disproportionate and discriminatory. The outcome of this European legal challenge could therefore reshape urban tourism policy across the continent.
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