The new regulation, resulting from an agreement between the PSC, ERC, the Comuns, and the CUP, aims to close the legal loophole that allowed temporary contracts to circumvent the price limits established by the state housing law of 2023. The measure has the non-binding legal endorsement of the Consell de Garanties Estatutàries (CGE), which ruled out constitutional conflicts after requests from Junts and the PPC.
The law incorporates seasonal rentals with residential use into the Catalan framework, defined as those intended for residing for a limited time due to work, studies, or medical treatments. If signed in declared stressed areas, these contracts will be subject to price limits. Explicitly excluded are vacation or recreational stays, as well as tourist rentals, which already have their own regulatory framework.
“"The government hopes that with the regulation of seasonal rentals, the price increase will at least be contained."
Another crucial aspect is that the regulation extends to room rentals and colivings used as a place of habitual residence for months, such as in Poblenou. In the case of room rentals, the sum of all rents for the same apartment cannot exceed the price limit established for the entire property.
The Minister Sílvia Paneque argued that the goal is to prevent temporary use from being a route to higher profitability and to provide "legal certainty" for both owners and tenants. The regulation is expected to come into force before the end of the year, and the Barcelona City Council has already announced its immediate application.
