The decision to completely ban tourist apartments in Badalona by 2028 has come as a surprise to many residents of Catalonia. City authorities, for the first time among major municipalities governed by the Partido Popular, have announced their intention to fully shut down this sector. This move could bring significant changes to the rental market and affect neighboring cities, where similar measures are already under discussion.
According to El Pais, Badalona mayor Xavier García Albiol unveiled plans to close all tourist apartments during a city council meeting. His announcement came amid debates on new regulations set to take effect in Catalonia in 2028. Under these changes, all current tourist apartment licenses will be terminated, and municipalities will be given the authority to decide how many and where such establishments can operate.
Reasons behind the decision
City officials explain that the decision is driven by the need to protect the interests of local residents. According to the administration, if Badalona does not take tough measures, the flow of tourists losing accommodation in Barcelona and other cities could shift here. This would push up rental prices and make life harder for locals. Albiol emphasized that sometimes decisions must be made that do not entirely align with the party’s stance if circumstances demand it.
During the city council discussion, the opposition and civic organizations voiced concerns that, following the ban on tourist apartments in Barcelona and other major cities, demand for this type of accommodation in Badalona will sharply rise. This could put added pressure on the real estate market and lead to discontent among residents.
Details of the new restrictions
In the near future, Badalona authorities plan to introduce even stricter rules that will effectively make it impossible to open new tourist apartments. According to urban planning official Daniel Gracia, new properties may only appear in separate buildings, at least 300 meters apart, and not on narrow streets. This restriction is expected to come into force at the next city council meeting, where the ruling party holds an absolute majority.
Despite supporting the idea of shutting down tourist apartments, the opposition disagreed with some details of the proposed reform, which prevented the initiative from being fully adopted. However, city officials assure that the new restrictions will be approved soon and will make it possible to control the situation through to 2028.
Impact on the market and neighboring cities
Badalona’s decision could set an example for other cities in Catalonia, where measures to limit or ban tourist apartments are also under discussion. Barcelona has already announced a full halt on issuing new licences for these properties from 2028. Similar initiatives are being considered in Girona and Tarragona. Experts note that such steps may lead to a redistribution of tourist flows and a change in the structure of the rental market in the region.
According to El Pais, recent years have seen a rise in complaints across Catalonia about noise, overcrowding, and soaring housing prices driven by the rapid expansion of the short-term rental sector. The introduction of new regulations aims to ease social tensions and return some apartments to the long-term rental market.
In recent years, Spain has tightened regulations on tourist apartments. In 2025, similar restrictions were introduced in Madrid, where authorities also limited the issuance of new licences and increased oversight of compliance. Valencia and Seville are discussing comparable measures to protect local residents’ interests and stabilise the rental market. Experts believe that such actions could become a new trend for the country’s major cities, where the problem of housing affordability is particularly acute.
