The Catalan capital has become a magnet for American students, many from affluent families, seeking a youthful experience in a modernist setting. This demand has fueled the proliferation of 'colivings,' where rooms are rented at prices often unaffordable for the local population, displacing long-term residents.
A prime example is that of a resident on Entença Street, 69, who has been a tenant for 32 years. Her building, which once housed several families, now has ten out of eleven flats converted into 'colivings' for young foreign students aged 18 to 25. The resident describes the situation as a "madness of noise and incivility," comparing it to "living in a daycare for older children."
The property of this block belongs to Vandor Real Estate, a SOCIMI that manages 17 properties in Barcelona with the same business model. These companies often evict long-term tenants once their contracts end to adapt the properties to this new modality. Other investment funds such as New Amsterdam Developments (NAD) or Vivenio operate similarly.
“"It's a madness of noise and incivility, it's like living in a daycare for older children."
The Catalan Tenants' Union has expressed its concern, as properties managed by funds like NAD advertise room rentals for between 900 and 1,000 euros, prices that could exceed the limit established by law. The entity has filed complaints against NAD and Vandor with the Catalan Consumer Agency and the Catalan Housing Agency (AHC) for non-compliance with regulations.
The Parliament of Catalonia approved a legislative amendment in December stating that, in stressed areas like Barcelona, the sum of all room rents in a flat cannot exceed the maximum set by the index for the entire dwelling. Furthermore, this reform includes seasonal rentals within the price cap.
The resident of Entença Street has also pointed out that many students manage their rentals through the same companies that facilitate their study programs, such as The American College of the Mediterranean and the International American University, suggesting these are "covert student residences."
The resident's resistance began in 2021, when the previous owner of the building died and bequeathed his assets to the Sagrada Familia Foundation. This foundation sold the property to Renta Corporación, which shortly after transferred it to Vandor. During this process, most of the neighbors were evicted.
The renovation works carried out by the new owner have also generated controversy. The Barcelona City Council considers them major rehabilitations, which would imply reserving 30% of the property for social housing, according to regulations. Vandor, for its part, rejects this classification and has filed appeals against the municipal reports.
