A new conflict over housing rentals is erupting in Barcelona, one that could change how tenants’ rights are protected in the city. Authorities are demanding an immediate halt to the eviction of a resident at a building on Sant Agustí street (Gràcia), where New Amsterdam Developers (NAD) plans to carry out the eviction this week. The situation has drawn the attention of civic organizations and become another example of the ongoing struggle for affordable housing in the metropolis.
According to El Pais, municipal representatives have sharply criticized the building owner’s actions. Housing Commissioner Joan Ramon Riera stated that city authorities do not accept such practices and demand an immediate stop to all legal proceedings related to tenant evictions. He stressed that apartments should be used for permanent residence, not converted into coliving spaces or short-term rentals.
Tenant resistance
At the Sant Agustí building, only five of the eleven apartments are still occupied by tenants. The rest have either already been rented out as coliving spaces or are under renovation. According to the tenant facing eviction, the rent for a room in a renovated apartment reaches €850, which is comparable to the entire apartment’s rent before the renovation. He continues to pay for housing and demands an extension of the lease, but the owner claims the rental term has ended and has initiated legal proceedings.
Residents and tenant unions report that after the building was purchased by NAD in 2023, they repeatedly tried to negotiate contract renewals but were refused. Instead, the owner began large-scale renovations to convert the apartments into coliving spaces, often without the necessary permits. This sparked a wave of protests and appeals to the city council demanding intervention.
The role of municipal authorities
The city council has already imposed fines totaling 20,000 euros for unlicensed construction. In addition, since December, Barcelona has enforced room rental regulations: the combined rent for all rooms in an apartment must not exceed the established index. Authorities are urging regional agencies to accelerate inspections and strengthen oversight of rental regulations.
City intervention goes beyond fines. Síndic de Greuges de Barcelona, a local ombudsman who has previously helped resolve disputes around Casa Orsola and Vallcarca, has joined the case. He is now working to facilitate dialogue between residents and the owner in hopes of reaching a compromise and preventing evictions.
Public response
The situation around the Sant Agustí building echoes the recent conflict at Casa Orsola, when investors refused to renew leases en masse and, after evicting tenants, converted the apartments to short-term rentals. At that time, intervention from the city council and civil organizations led to the building’s purchase by the city and its conversion into social housing.
Tenant unions are calling for mass protests at the building to prevent the eviction. They believe the outcome of this case could set a precedent for similar situations in Barcelona. On social media, activists urge people to defend not only individual apartments but also the very fabric of city neighborhoods from being turned into a network of coliving spaces and short-term rentals.
Context and implications
In recent years, Barcelona has seen a rise in investors buying up residential buildings to convert them into coliving or short-term rental properties. This is driving out long-term tenants and pushing up housing prices. The city authorities are tightening regulations, introducing new rules and fines, yet conflicts between residents and property owners continue to arise.
A similar situation occurred at Casa Orsola, where after prolonged protests and negotiations, the building was purchased by the municipality and transferred to the management of the Habitat 3 foundation. In Vallcarca, an agreement was reached to relocate some of the residents. These cases demonstrate that public pressure and active involvement from city agencies can change the outcome, although resolving such conflicts requires time and a comprehensive approach.
