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Barcelona residents call for support to curb tourist flats in their buildings
The pressure from tourist flats is starting to change life in Barcelona apartment buildings. In just one month, at least a dozen residents' associations have applied for municipal support to limit or ban this type of accommodation in their properties.
The grant aims to make a process that isn’t easy a little simpler. It covers part of the legal costs involved in changing the community statutes, with support that can reach up to 2,500 euros, depending on the type of change being made.
The goal is for residents themselves to decide how they want to use their building. However, this measure does not affect existing tourist flats; it is intended to prevent new ones from being added in the future.
To enforce the ban, a broad agreement is needed: at least 80% of property owners must vote in favour, and the change must be officially registered for it to be fully valid.
Behind this move is a reality that is becoming increasingly visible in many neighbourhoods: noise, a constant turnover of people, and conflicts in shared areas. The municipal support aims to give residents tools to anticipate these problems and regain control over their surroundings.
If you live in a building with tourist flats, you now have more options to regulate their presence together with your neighbours. It could also change the atmosphere in many buildings, with less turnover and more stability in the medium term. Although it does not affect existing flats, it is a step that could influence how life in your neighbourhood evolves in the coming years.