Initial approval to declare Barcelona as an area with a tense housing market

The declaration means rental prices in the Catalan capital will be regulated from September, affecting new rental contracts signed in the next five years.

23/07/2021 15:46 h

Ajuntament de Barcelona

The Full Council has given its initial approval to declare the city as an area with a tense housing market. The declaration will allow for the application of regulated rental prices set out in Act 11/2020, on urgent measures to contain prices in home rental contracts.

As from September, the reference price when it comes to signing a new rental contract will be lower than the price of the previous contract and 95% of the pricing index established by the Government of Catalonia.

The declaration of the city as an area with a tense housing market will apply for five years, the longest period allowed by law. It will include homes with useful floor space of over 150 square metres.

Over 30% of the city’s population live in rented homes. Prices rose by 31% between 2015 and 2020.

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