News
Rent falls by four point four percent in Barcelona
In the first two years of the caps, Barcelona saw a 4.4% drop in rent; in Catalonia, there was a 0.7% increase. The Generalitat estimates an average saving of 129 euros per month per tenant.
The Generalitat has calculated these figures based on the deposits made at the Instituto Catalán del Suelo (Incasòl). According to the government’s data, rents in Barcelona fell by 4.4% during the first two years of the caps being in place, and tenants are saving an average of 129 euros per month.
The picture changes when looking more broadly: across Catalonia as a whole, including areas without limits, rents rose by 0.7%. The measure has been in effect in high-pressure areas since March 2024, when it came into force under Pere Aragonès.
More contracts but less turnover
The Generalitat counts 23,506 standard rental contracts signed in the first two years. This is an increase, although the pace has slowed compared to previous years. The Catalan government attributes this trend to the caps discouraging landlords from changing tenants, which reduces turnover and promotes stability.
In the last year of the period analysed, there were 10% more contracts than the previous year. Seasonal rentals—a formula many landlords had used to get around the housing law—fell by 40% in the same period.
The Generalitat defends the regulation
Real estate agents argue that the limits have reduced the signing of new contracts. The Generalitat disputes this view and claims that supply has not decreased, but is actually growing. The government also credits the regulation with containing prices and says that families and young people are already feeling the benefits in their wallets.
In an interview on Cadena Ser, Salvador Illa argued that prices have been contained and that the law is working. In that conversation, he also said that the agreement with Comuns on regulating speculative housing purchases had not been broken and that the objectives remained the same. He also recalled that the report from the Consejo de Garantías Estatutarias on the first draft had expressed reservations.
In another area of urban policy, Barcelona has approved support for markets aimed at their traders’ associations, with grants of up to 60,000 euros.