"Barcelona has just dropped a bombshell - and it could change the way the city lives, rents, and travels. Mayor Jaume Collboni has announced that by 2028, the city will ban all short-term tourist rentals, effectively ending the Airbnb era that helped turn Barcelona into one of the world's most popular destinations. It's one of the boldest housing measures ever taken in Europe, and while some residents are cheering the move, others are warning that it could seriously hurt the city's economy."
"The plan is simple, at least on paper. Barcelona will phase out more than 10,000 tourist apartment licences over the next three years. Once 2028 arrives, those flats can no longer be rented to tourists - no exceptions. In other words, the city's famous short-term holiday lets, from Airbnb apartments to boutique rentals in Gothic Quarter and Eixample, will disappear entirely."
""We want to give housing back to residents," Collboni said when unveiling the decision. "Barcelona cannot continue losing homes to tourism while young people and families are pushed out." The city has already notified Airbnb and other rental platforms about the decision, warning that licences won't be renewed once they expire. Anyone caught renting out without authorisation after 2028 could face fines or even lose their property's rental rights altogether."
Barcelona will ban all short-term tourist rentals by 2028, phasing out more than 10,000 tourist apartment licences over the next three years. Once licences expire they will not be renewed and flats can no longer be rented to tourists, with fines or loss of rental rights for unauthorised lettings after 2028. The measure aims to return housing to residents and to stop homes being lost to tourism while young people and families are pushed out. Critics warn the ban could harm the economy; a PwC report estimates tourist rentals generate €1.9 billion and support over 40,000 jobs in the city.
Read at Euro Weekly News
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