Debate is once again heating up in Catalonia over the real estate market. This time, the discussion centers on the idea of temporarily banning the purchase of apartments for investment purposes in order to curb price increases and protect local residents from being displaced. The issue has become particularly acute after property prices in some districts of Barcelona have multiplied, with most transactions now made in cash.
A legal analysis commissioned by Barcelona’s strategic planning team confirms that restricting apartment purchases exclusively for primary residence is possible under current law. Experts refer to Constitutional Court decisions that have already allowed interventions in the rental market. The proposal now is to extend similar measures to sales transactions, but only in areas with especially high pressure and for a limited period.
In Barcelona’s political circles, the idea has received support from left-wing parties and some municipal groups. They are inspired by Amsterdam’s experience, where similar restrictions are already in place in several neighborhoods. The city authorities have not yet published their own analysis, but the discussion is ongoing.
The essence of the proposed measure is to allow property purchases only for personal residence for a period of five to seven years, or for close relatives. For entire buildings, it is proposed to maintain current rental rates for existing tenants. Depending on the level of authority, such restrictions may be introduced at the national, regional, or municipal scale. In Catalonia, laws are already in place requiring the maintenance of social cohesion and preventing resident displacement.
In recent years, Spanish authorities have repeatedly implemented emergency measures to protect citizens, from anti-eviction laws to rental regulations. Now, new steps are on the agenda that could change the rules of the real estate market. The question remains whether there is enough political will to carry them out.
