Out of the 969 ads detected, 524 are offering whole flats without licences or with false licences. The other 445 are being advertised as rooms but are actually offering whole flats divided into rooms or bedrooms with services which hide their real activity as a hostel or pension. Over half the ads are for homes in the districts of Ciutat Vella (420) and L’Eixample (273).

Barcelona City Council has been working for some time on stopping illegal flats being advertised on the internet. Holiday rental platforms have been ordered to take down 11,714 adverts since 2017, of which 9,770 were on Airbnb. In other words, more than 8 out of 10 correspond to this platform.

Balance for the shock plan

The measure corresponds to the shock plan initiated in 2016 to put the brakes on the number of illegal tourist lets, which was out of control at that point. In all, 16,993 disciplinary cases have been brought since then, resulting in 7,194 orders to cease activity and 8,740 fines.

In addition, 2,176 flats which were being illegally rented out to tourists are now being used as regular housing, either because they have been put on the rental market or because their owners have moved into them. Regarding legal tourist lets, some 908 fines have been given for flats with licences due to inconvenience caused to local residents.

If you believe there are unlicensed tourist flats in your building, you can notify the City Council at: https://meet.barcelona.cat/habitatgesturistics.