A new study by Barcelona’s Chamber of Urban Property sheds light on the growing, yet still modest, footprint of seasonal lets—an increasingly popular strategy among landlords seeking to sidestep pricing regulations in the city’s tight housing market.
Despite making plenty of headlines and dominating listings on property portals, seasonal rentals represented only 2.68% of Barcelona’s rental stock in 2024, according to a recent study by the Cambra de la Propietat Urbana de Barcelona (CPUBCN).
That number is based on 8,406 seasonal contracts signed during the year, compared to a total available rental stock of 314,144 homes. When measured against the city’s full housing stock (815,075 dwellings including owned properties), the share of these lets drops to just over 1%.
Growing popularity
Used by some landlords hoping to avoid Catalonia’s increasingly stringent rent controls on permanent leases, temporary contracts enjoy a legal grey area. They’re governed by a different chapter of Spain’s Urban Leasing Law—specifically those for “non-habitual” use—and are not subject to standard rent caps.
The growing popularity of this format, especially among landlords of well-furnished and recently renovated flats, has caused a stir. Property platforms like Idealista have estimated that as many as 42% of all listings in Barcelona belong to this category, and the local Housing Observatory recently claimed one in two advertised rentals fall under the seasonal umbrella.
However, the Cambra’s latest figures reveal a more nuanced picture. Òscar Gorgues, the organisation’s general manager, emphasised that “despite their visibility and high rotation, seasonal lets remain a minority of contracts when measured over the full housing stock.”
The key takeaway? “They serve a specific functional purpose for the city’s floating population,” according to Gorgues.
A solution or a loophole?
As debate swirls around efforts to regulate the seasonal market more firmly—regional government has announced plans to clamp down on misuse—the Cambra insists that landlords are, by and large, playing by the rules.
Gorgues rejected the idea that landlords are converting regular lettings into seasonal contracts en masse. In 2024, Barcelona registered some 32,905 conventional rental contracts and logged 30,179 cancellations—a net gain of 2,726. That balance, he argues, proves no large-scale ‘switch’ is happening.
Moreover, the Cambra’s review found no signs of widespread irregular contracting.
“There’s no great migration underway,” Gorgues reiterated.
Shorter stays, higher prices, higher costs
The study also highlights the defining characteristics of seasonals. The average term for these contracts smoothed out at 12.42 months over the year—practically nudging into long-term territory. The sample is based on 1,400 registered contracts and reflects typical offerings: newly renovated, tastefully furnished, and marketed at premium rates.
Why do seasonal rentals tend to be more expensive? Gorgues makes a simple case: higher maintenance and management costs, increased wear and tear due to frequent tenant turnover—and no tax benefits for landlords. Unlike long-term rentals, seasonal lets are not eligible for IRPF income tax reductions when owned by private individuals, making them more costly for both landlords and tenants.
The politics of what’s next
Catalonia’s regional housing department has already indicated it is working on new legislation to regulate seasonal rentals more assertively, arguing that too many landlords are using this format to dodge rent controls. Progress at the national level has been slow, pushing the Generalitat to take the initiative.
Whether the proposed measures will shrink the market or simply drive it further underground remains to be seen.
For now, despite the noise and portal saturation, seasonal rentals remain a niche corner of Barcelona’s complex rental ecosystem—albeit one closely watched by policymakers, residents and property professionals alike.
