A major European city is about to ban apartment rentals for tourists

Spain’s most visited city will soon ban apartment rentals to tourists in a bid to address soaring rent costs.

By 2028, Barcelona will cancel the licences of 10,101 apartments currently approved as short-term rentals.

Mayor Jaume Collboni said: ‘We are confronting what we believe is Barcelona’s largest problem.’

The city is a popular holiday destination and boasts thousands of online listings for short term rentals.

Barcelona welcomed nearly 7.8 million tourists in 2023 alone, according to Statista, as travellers returned after the Covid pandemic.

But as tourism increases, locals are getting the short end of the stick.

Rents in Barcelona have surged 68% in the past 10 years, while the cost of buying a house rose by 38%.

Mayor Collboni added: ‘Those 10,000 apartments will be used by the city’s residents or will go on the market for rent or sale.’

Spotlight on Airbnb

Short term rental sites like Airbnb have been facing increasingly strict guidance.

Last year it was revealed Airbnb owners and guests could soon be facing sanctions if they use rental properties to throw parties as part of a government drive to stamp out anti-social behaviour.

Referencing noise problems, drunken behaviour and disorderly conduct, the plan promises the creation of a new registration scheme that would provide councils with the data to identify short-term lets in the local area.

If any short-term rental property proved ‘problematic’, local officials could take action against those deemed responsible.

Tourism problems?

Earlier this year, Barcelona became the latest European holiday hotspot to introduce a heftier tourist tax.

Since April 1 2024, the city’s tourist tax – which was first introduced in 2012 – rose from €2.75 (£2.36) per night to €3.25 (£2.79) per night.

The Spanish government approved plans to increase the tax to up to €4, so there may be another increase next year.

The surcharge hike will have a knock on effect on accommodation prices.

Now that guests will have to part ways with €3.25 for the tax, a stay in a five-star hotel will now cost €6.75 (£5.79) per night when factoring in the new surcharge and the accommodation-specific tax, which adds up to €47.25 (£40.51) per person to stay for the week.

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