The owners of tourist apartments in Barcelona, threatened with closure in 2029, have decided to go on the offensive. On Monday, September 16, the Apartur association, which represents nearly 7,000 of the 10,000 legal tourist accommodations listed in the Catalan capital, announced an avalanche of appeals against the Generalité, the local government..
“The decision to remove tourist apartments means a loss of profits and threatens the recovery of the investments made by the owners. It is a form of expropriation, an attack on the right of ownership. The total claims we are currently collecting already represent more than one billion euros in compensation claims. And this is just the beginning… warns Marian Muro, general manager of Apartur. She does not hide her anger.
On June 21, the mayor of Barcelona, the socialist Jaume Collboni, caused a stir by announcing the elimination of all tourist apartments in the city in November 2028. His decision is based on a decree-law of the Generalitat, approved in November 2023 and limiting the period of validity of the “tourist licenses” – which allow property owners to rent out their accommodation to vacationers and visitors staying in the city.
“Negative effects of mass tourism”
Until now, these permits were perpetual. After the five-year period, the decree gives each municipality the power to renew them or not. In February, the Popular Party (PP, right) filed an appeal before the Constitutional Court. While awaiting the decision of the Spanish supreme court, the councillor took the most radical decision: to eliminate the Airbnbs.
“The city cannot afford such a large number of tourist apartments in a context of obvious difficulties in accessing housing and the negative effects of tourist overcrowding”, Mr Collboni justified himself. He pointed out that in ten years rental prices have increased by an average of 68%, although since 2014 the city has banned any new opening of tourist accommodation. “Adding 10,000 apartments to the real estate market is a significant decisionHe insisted again in July on Cadena Ser radio. This is equivalent to ten years of average private housing construction in the city (…) And nobody likes to have tourist apartments in their building. »
In fact, in Barcelona, the possible elimination of tourist apartments seems to have the support of residents. “I think this is a very good measure: Airbnbs need to be regulated, focusing on quality tourism that attracts people who respect the city and its inhabitants. And the apartments should be used to house us.”says Álvaro Molina, a computer programmer, sitting on a terrace in the central Poble Sec neighborhood with his friends, who nod in agreement. I did my calculations and I still have to live with my parents for six more years to have any hope of being able to buy an apartment.”, adds the 32-year-old.
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