Sharp Drop in New Rental Agreements: A Worrying Trend
The second quarter of 2025 saw a marked decline in rental activity across Catalonia. Between April and June, only 26,416 new rental contracts were signed in the region—nearly 10% fewer than during the same period last year, and 13% less than in the previous quarter of 2023. This drop is the most significant in the past 15 years, except for the pandemic-induced freeze in spring 2020.
The decrease has been especially noticeable in the region’s largest cities. In Barcelona, just 7,411 new deals were recorded—the lowest figure since 2009. Cities such as Cornellà de Llobregat, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, and Sant Cugat del Vallès saw year-on-year drops in new contracts ranging from 15% to 25%. Only Mataró and Lleida experienced slight increases, but even there, figures lag behind those at the start of the year.
Rental Prices Still Climbing: Restrictions Fail to Curb Growth
Despite price caps introduced in March 2024 across 130 municipalities, rental costs in Catalonia continue to rise steadily. The average monthly payment for housing in the second quarter reached €854.70, up 3.8% from spring 2024. Compared to the first quarter of 2025, rents increased by 3.2%. This is the second-highest level ever recorded, surpassed only by the record set at the start of 2024.
In what are known as ‘high-demand areas’, the average rental price reached €871.20 per month, slightly above March levels. Over three months, rents in these districts have risen by 3.07%. Most major cities in the region have seen annual rental price increases—over 10% in some cases. The only exceptions are Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Cugat del Vallès, where average prices have actually fallen.
Barcelona: less space, higher prices
In the Catalan capital, renters are facing another challenge: apartments are getting even more compact, while the price per square meter continues to climb. In spring 2025, the average rental price per square meter in Barcelona reached €16.56—a 3.6% increase from the previous year. The average rental property size is now 71 square meters, the lowest since 2017.
Meanwhile, the average rent in Barcelona rose to €1,135.55 per month—the highest figure since early 2024 and the fourth-highest on record. Other cities, such as Cornellà de Llobregat, Terrassa, Badalona, and Mataró, also posted annual rent increases of over 10%.
Rental market: who benefits from the new rules
The introduction of rent controls has not led to the expected decrease in prices. On the contrary, the market has become less accessible for new tenants, while property owners are increasingly choosing not to rent out their apartments, or doing so at higher prices. The decrease in supply and rise in demand mean that tenants are forced to accept less favorable terms.
Experts point out that the situation in Catalonia could serve as an example for other regions of Spain, where similar measures to regulate the rental market are also being discussed. For now, residents of the autonomous region are facing reality: finding affordable housing is becoming increasingly difficult, and the new regulations are offering no relief.
As RUSSPAIN previously reported: who controls the housing market in Catalonia
For reference, the rental market in Catalonia is regulated by the Generalitat de Catalunya—the region’s autonomous government, which holds broad authority over housing policy. The government includes the Institut Català del Sòl (Incasòl), responsible for collecting and analyzing real estate market data, as well as ensuring compliance with new rental regulations. In recent years, the Generalitat has actively implemented various measures to curb price growth, though their effectiveness is increasingly questioned by experts and market participants. The institute regularly publishes detailed statistics on price trends and transaction volumes, allowing stakeholders to track developments and make decisions based on up-to-date information. Despite these efforts, Catalonia’s rental market remains one of the most strained and expensive in Spain, and local residents are finding it increasingly difficult to secure housing. In the coming months, the Generalitat plans to review the existing policies and may propose new tools to stabilize the situation. Only time will tell whether these steps will bring real change, or if the market will continue on its current path.
