The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has made it clear that he will not go back on his decision to phase out tourist apartments following a recent plea from Airbnb to reconsider the policy.
Collboni’s response, shared via an open letter to Airbnb and on Linkedin, leaves no room for doubt: Barcelona is committed to putting an end to the use of residential housing for tourism purposes. (See: Barcelona to ban tourist rentals).
“The days of economic activity using homes as tourist accommodation are numbered in our city,” Collboni stated in his letter.
Airbnb challenges the policy
Airbnb had written to Collboni, urging him to reconsider the prohibition of tourist apartments, arguing that the policy will have a “null effect” and suggesting that the city should instead focus on creating affordable housing policies rather than banning an entire sector.
However, Collboni dismissed this argument, standing by the city’s decision to allow existing licences for tourist apartments—around 10,000 in total—to expire by 2028. He emphasised that Barcelona cannot afford the luxury of tourist housing while grappling with a housing deficit that has driven rental prices sky-high.
Returning 10,000 homes to the residential market
The mayor underscored the broader goal of the policy: returning 10,000 tourist apartments to the residential housing market. This move, he said, would directly benefit more than 25,000 citizens.
“Our goal is to return those 10,000 homes to the residential market, which will directly benefit more than 25,000 people. It’s a matter of principle,” Collboni wrote.
He also framed the decision as a broader declaration of intent, aimed at addressing the impact of platform-based economies on the city. Prioritising access to dignified housing over tourism, Collboni emphasised the need for fiscal equality between local economies, small businesses, and large online distributors.
Willingness to collaborate responsibly
While defending the policy, Collboni extended an olive branch to private initiatives that can balance economic activity with social responsibility. He expressed openness to collaboration, provided that these initiatives guarantee fair competition in fiscal terms and uphold labour and consumer rights.
‘Pla Viure’ and other housing measures
Collboni stressed that banning tourist apartments is only one part of the city’s broader strategy to address the housing crisis. Under the ‘Pla Viure,’ Barcelona has declared itself a “stressed residential area,” allowing it to regulate and cap rental prices. Additionally, the city has approved a six-year extension of its right of first refusal and pre-emption, enabling the local government to purchase private homes to keep them in the affordable housing market.
The mayor also highlighted ongoing efforts to expand the city’s stock of protected housing, noting that 5,000 affordable homes are currently under construction at various stages of development.
Drop in the ocean
The 10,000 legal rentals on Airbnb are less than 1% of Barcelona’s housing stock. Banning tourist rentals in Barcelona will not solve the city’s housing crisis, which is driven by much larger forces like immigration, although Collboni is right to say that every little bit helps. The policy also has other downsides like encouraging illegal rentals, attacking private property rights, and turning many potential visitors off Barcelona. Clamping down on the thousands of unlicensed tourist rentals in Barcelona might be a better place to start.
