The supervisory body notes that this situation, technically termed "overexertion," is particularly pronounced in the Catalan capital, placing it among cities with the highest figures nationwide, surpassed only by Seville and Málaga. This phenomenon is exacerbated by the presence of tourist apartments, which constitute 22.2% of units in Barcelona's tourist zones.
Housing access difficulties are not confined to the rental market. According to the report, a Barcelona family would need nine years of net income to purchase an apartment in the city, an effort reduced by 20% if the purchase is made in the metropolitan area.
The document also highlights the challenges young people face in becoming independent, evidenced by a 61% increase in property donations from parents to children since 2019, totaling 35,000 transfers last year. Furthermore, monetary donations have tripled, reaching 5.5 billion euros in 2025.
For a young couple, rental costs in Barcelona represent 47% of their net income, a figure that drops to 40% in the metropolitan area. For a purchase, the equivalent net income period would be 12.3 years, surpassed only by Madrid and Málaga.
The Bank of Spain regrets the low construction of new housing, insufficient to meet real demand. It estimates that the Barcelona area has the potential to build up to 120,000 units, while the accumulated deficit nationwide is estimated at 750,000.
