The severe housing crisis in Barcelona, marked by abusive prices, forces residents to question whether they can continue living in their native areas. In this context, the announcement of expanding the housing stock by a thousand flats with regulated rents is significant news. In Vila de Gràcia, where unbuilt spaces are scarce, 800 flats will be introduced without new construction, while 500 will be built in the Vallcarca area.
The problem will not be over, and more and more solutions will still be needed, and the more affordable they are, the better.
These 800 homes in Vila will cease to be occupied by visitors, easing tourist pressure in the neighborhood. However, this progress comes at a critical time. The new law regulating seasonal and room rentals has shown its limitations, as some residents of the Sant Agustí block have already suffered the consequences, being evicted from their flats due to exorbitant room rental prices.
2025 has been a busy year regarding housing, with progress such as the unblocking of the situation in Vallcarca, where dialogue is expected to lead to neighborhood improvements. The ultimate goal is that, despite the slow pace of processes, everyone can have a decent place to live in their city in the future.
