Barcelona’s legal tourist apartments are heavily concentrated in Eixample and Gràcia. Despite a ban on new licenses, numbers keep rising. Authorities warn of loopholes that could delay the planned 2028 phase-out.
Barcelona’s efforts to curb the proliferation of tourist apartments are facing new challenges, as recent analysis by the Federación de Asociaciones Vecinales de Barcelona (FAVB) reveals a sharp concentration of legal tourist rentals in key districts. The Eixample area alone accounts for nearly half of the city’s 10,730 licensed tourist apartments, with one building on Carrer de Tarragona housing a record 92 units. Gràcia and Sants-Montjuïc also show significant numbers, while Ciutat Vella, despite its central location and early activism against tourist rentals, holds fewer than expected.
FAVB’s findings come as the city prepares for a sweeping ban on tourist apartments by 2028, a measure announced by Mayor Jaume Collboni. However, the data shows that since the 2015 freeze on new licenses, Barcelona has still added 1,325 tourist apartments. These were approved through brief legal loopholes, sometimes lasting only hours, allowing owners to secure permits before restrictions took full effect.
The distribution of tourist apartments is far from uniform. While 2,643 units are the sole tourist rental in their building, other properties have become hubs for short-term stays. According to FAVB, 178 buildings contain between 10 and 19 tourist apartments, 35 buildings have between 20 and 29, and 19 buildings each hold more than 30 licenses. The Dreta de l’Eixample neighborhood leads with 16.8% of all tourist apartments, followed by Sagrada Familia, Gràcia, Antiga Esquerra de l’Eixample, Sant Antoni, and Poble Sec.
FAVB leaders Miquel Borràs and Jaume Artigues warn that property owners may exploit a clause in the Generalitat’s decree to extend their licenses beyond 2028. By investing in their properties and demonstrating that costs have not been recouped, owners could potentially keep operating for up to five additional years. The city government, led by the PSC, has stated it will not allow this, aiming to return 10,000 apartments to the residential market.
Another concern raised by FAVB is the trend of concentrating multiple licenses within single buildings, which could later be converted into student residences. The organization is calling for stricter inspections and rigorous enforcement of existing regulations to prevent such strategies from undermining the city’s housing goals.
This debate over tourist apartments in Barcelona echoes broader concerns about the impact of short-term rentals on urban life, housing affordability, and neighborhood stability. The city’s approach is being closely watched across Spain, especially as other regions grapple with similar pressures. For context, recent scrutiny of data reliability in other sectors, such as the unexpected surge in TVE morning show ratings, highlights the importance of transparency and oversight in public policy decisions.
Barcelona’s tourist rental market has been a flashpoint for years, with residents and local groups citing rising rents and changing neighborhood dynamics. The city’s planned phase-out of tourist apartments by 2028 is one of the most ambitious in Europe, but the persistence of legal loopholes and concentrated ownership patterns suggests that enforcement will remain a challenge. As the deadline approaches, the effectiveness of these measures—and the city’s ability to reclaim housing for residents—will be a key test for urban policy in Spain.
