Catalonia has launched a campaign to combat rising housing prices and speculation in the real estate market. A new agreement between the regional government and the Comuns party aims to ensure that apartments in high-demand areas are used for permanent residence rather than commercial purposes. This decision may affect both large property owners and ordinary buyers, changing the usual rules of the real estate game.
What will change for buyers
The main idea behind the new measures is to restrict buying property solely for quick resale or renting at inflated rates. Now, to purchase an apartment in one of the 270 municipalities with a strained housing market, buyers must prove the property is intended for their own residence. For major owners with five or more properties, this becomes a mandatory requirement. They have up to a year, or in some cases up to eighteen months, to confirm that they actually live in the purchased home. If buying an entire building, apartments may only be rented out at rates not exceeding the established limits, and existing rental contracts must remain valid until they expire.
Ordinary citizens will also have to follow new rules. Housing purchases are allowed for personal use, for close relatives, or for rental purposes, but only at prices set by the Catalan government. Buying a second apartment in a high-demand zone will only be permitted in a different municipality, and using it for tourism or short-term rentals will be prohibited.
Control mechanisms and fines
Catalan authorities rely on urban planning law reforms to implement these measures. According to El Pais, the decision is based on expert conclusions confirming the constitutionality of such restrictions. Violating the new rules will be considered a serious administrative offense and could result in fines of up to 1.5 million euros.
The duration of the restrictions is directly linked to the period during which a municipality is officially designated as a high-pressure market zone. Once the situation stabilizes, the measures may be reviewed or lifted. Inheritance of property is exempt from limits on the number of units, but if the housing is located in a high-demand zone, it must be rented out.
International experience and market impact
Catalan authorities have drawn inspiration from the experience of the Netherlands, where cities with populations over 200,000 can restrict speculative purchases. In Amsterdam, for example, you can’t buy an apartment unless you plan to live in it. Similar measures are already being discussed in other regions of Europe, where rising housing prices are causing discontent among local residents.
The introduction of restrictions may lead to reduced investor activity and slower price growth, but it also raises concerns among some experts. Some believe such measures could shrink the supply in the rental market, which means some buyers may look for workarounds. However, according to RUSSPAIN.COM, similar initiatives in other countries have already shown that strict controls can curb speculation and protect the interests of local residents.
Context and consequences
In recent years, Spain has increasingly adopted measures aimed at protecting citizens from the effects of real estate speculation. For instance, in Andalusia, after a devastating storm, the authorities had to revise the budget and seek emergency support measures, detailed in the article on the impact of the disaster on farmers and the tourism sector. Such actions show that regional governments are increasingly responding to market challenges to protect residents’ interests and stabilize the economy.
In recent years, rules for investors have tightened across Europe and Spain to ease pressure on the housing market. Barcelona and Madrid have already implemented restrictions on short-term rentals, while some areas have set limits on property purchases by foreigners. Other EU countries, such as Germany and France, are discussing similar initiatives to make housing more affordable for local families. These trends reflect growing concerns about housing availability and the authorities’ efforts to control speculative transactions.
