The scarce supply of long-term rental housing in Barcelona has unleashed unprecedented competition among tenants with tight budgets. A 55m² studio on Passeig de la Zona Franca has received 1,980 applications, while a 37m² penthouse in Dreta de l'Eixample has accumulated 1,824 requests. These properties are among the two dozen apartments advertised for less than 1,000 euros on the Idealista platform.

Demand far outstrips supply, with an average rental contract standing at 1,161 euros. This situation has led to a "war" among candidates, with some advertisers even requiring preliminary questionnaires to filter the large number of applications. The majority of Barcelona residents, 58%, are looking for homes under 1,000 euros.

Price regulation in stressed areas of Catalonia, applied for two years, has benefited tenants renewing contracts but has made housing access difficult for people with fewer resources. Many of the few available listings under 1,000 euros are, in fact, seasonal rentals, thus circumventing price regulations and offering contracts for a maximum of 11 months.

Among the most sought-after apartments, in addition to those already mentioned, is a 940 euro home in the Font de la Guatlla neighborhood (Sants-Montjuïc) with 1,076 applications, and a 48m² apartment in Ríos Rosas, in Putxet, which has generated 1,100 requests. The situation is so extreme that some agencies have had to limit the management of requests to online forms due to the impossibility of answering all calls.