The cities of Reus and Tortosa, the largest in the province of Tarragona, have been excluded from the new tense residential zone declaration announced by the Generalitat in July. Despite their exit, the city councils of both municipalities warn that the problem of housing access persists. In Reus, the inability to cap rental prices is a particular concern.
Conversely, Vila-seca (Tarragonès) and Vandellòs i l’Hospitalet de l’Infant (Baix Camp) celebrate their inclusion on the list, although they urge the Government to «flexibilize» procedures to boost new construction. Real estate agents (API) warn that legislative changes create «insecurity» for property owners and could reduce the available rental stock.
The mayor of Tortosa, Mar Lleixà, has positively assessed the city's removal from the list of municipalities with tense residential markets. She notes that the price caps implemented in recent years have curbed rental increases and that the city meets affordability criteria. Lleixà explained to ACN that the council will not file appeals, as the regulations are reviewed annually and can be reapplied if the situation changes. «The combination of different factors means that, despite housing difficulties, which are evident, the situation has improved in the last year,» she stated.
Lleixà highlighted that Tortosa remains a municipality with strong demand and that social housing policies, the provision of land to the Generalitat, and initiatives from the Pla de Barris will continue to be promoted to guarantee the right to affordable housing.
In Terres de l’Ebre, the tense residential market zone remains with the inclusion of Camarles (Baix Ebre). In total, fourteen towns in the region are on the list: in Montsià, they are Amposta, la Sénia, Santa Bàrbara, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Ulldecona, and Alcanar; in Baix Ebre, Roquetes, l’Aldea, l’Ampolla, Deltebre, l’Ametlla de Mar, and now Camarles; and in Ribera d’Ebre, Móra d’Ebre and Móra la Nova.
From API de Catalunya, secretary Francesc Quintana expressed «surprise» at the changes and criticized the «legal insecurity» caused by constant decrees. According to Quintana, this leads investors to stop investing, reducing the rental stock. Although cities leaving the regulation might see rental contracts updated to market prices, «very considerable» increases are not expected.
Sergio Nasarre Aznar, professor of Civil Law and founder of the UNESCO Chair of Housing at the URV, considers the Housing Law's track record «negative». He argues that where it has been applied, there has been a «moderation of the increase» but not a reduction in prices, while municipalities outside the regulation have seen price increases due to the «border effect». Nasarre predicts that more rental properties will become available in Reus and Tortosa, attracting demand, and that «liberalized» municipalities will experience a «significant increase» in prices.
Nasarre compares the current system to a «PortAventura» of ups and downs and warns that extending regulation could contravene the Constitution, as well as lead to the «deterioration» of properties by owners who find renting unprofitable.
