Barcelona made a decision that shakes the global temporary rental market: the municipal government announced that it will not renew tourist housing licenses starting in November 2028. The measure implies that more than 10,000 apartments will stop operating on Airbnb and other platforms, and will have to return to the residential market.
The announcement was made by Mayor Jaume Collboni, who argued that the city faces a housing crisis aggravated by mass tourism. According to official data, rents increased more than 60% in the last decade and the presence of tourist housing puts pressure on prices upwards, expelling residents and distorting the market. Barcelona had already adopted strict controls in previous years, but now it is going one step further and moving towards the total disappearance of this type of apartment accommodation.
The decision is supported by a decree of the Generalitat of Catalonia that established maximum terms for licenses. The municipality chose not to renew them, in line with its policy of prioritizing housing for residents and containing the impact of tourism on urban life. The mayor’s office assures that the return of these units to traditional rental will have a “direct effect” on the housing supply.
Airbnb described the measure as “extreme”, although it admitted that it could become a precedent for other European cities with similar problems.
Barcelona is not alone: New York prevents rentals of less than 30 days when the host does not reside at the property, which drastically reduced active listings; Berlin has required strict permits since 2014 and severely penalizes illegal rentals; and Budapest, in one of its most touristic districts, approved a total ban starting in 2026. All seek to stop the loss of permanent housing and avoid the “touristification” of entire neighborhoods.
In Buenos Aires the scenario is different, but the trend is worrying: rise in rents, drop in residential supply and expansion of the temporary market. The Catalan decision could accelerate the local debate on how far to regulate the platforms to balance tourism and access to housing.
