The Parliament Rejects the Regulation of Temporal Rentals in Barcelona

The Government Fails to Gain PSC Support for a Decree that Rendered Midterm Rentals in Barcelona Economically Unfeasible

Impact of Rejected Temporal Rental Laws on Barcelona's Real Estate Market

This morning, the Permanent Deputation of the Parliament of Catalonia rejected the validation of a decree law that the Generalitat approved in April. This decree regulated temporal rentals in Barcelona, making them economically unfeasible except for recreational or cultural events. Basically, temporal rental laws in Barcelona have changed for the better, and back to how they were. This is a huge advantage to investors and keeps the market truly 'free'. The Executive Council of the Generalitat approved the decree on April 24, with the Parliament already dissolved. However, they did not negotiate it with the PSC or Junts per Catalunya. ERC needed the support of at least one of the two groups to move it forward. Despite adding the votes of the Comunes and the CUP to their own, they couldn't validate the decree. They only achieved the PSC's abstention against the rejection of Junts, PP, Ciudadanos, and Vox.

Political Reactions to Temporal Rental Regulations in Barcelona

Ester Capella, the acting Minister and main promoter of the decree, criticized the rejection. She argued that it "clears the way for speculation and fraud" and distances the Parliament from defending housing as a citizen's right. Mònica Sales, spokesperson for Junts, suggested that "temporal housing needs regulation, but not like this. And we need to listen to the sector." The PSC initially reproached ERC for their initiative. They considered it "more electoral than governmental," in the words of their spokesperson, Lluïsa Moret. Moret criticized the Republicans for making "proposals that have not been agreed upon or debated in parliament." Junts per Catalunya opposed addressing the housing problem solely through regulation. Their number three, Josep Rull, called the decree a "monumental blunder" and criticized the decision as smelling of electoralism.

Key Provisions in the Temporal Rental Laws in Barcelona

The decree introduced a new article in the 2007 Catalonia Housing Law. This article establishes that leases for various purposes will be considered ordinary housing leases, subject to rent control. The decree also regulates the maximum rent for room rentals. It stipulates that the rent for all elements of the property cannot exceed the maximum price set by law for the complete property rental.

Current Status of Temporal Rentals and Room Rentals in Spain

In Spain, there is currently no regulation for room rentals. Temporal rentals are excluded from the LAU. They are governed by the Civil Code, with conditions left to free agreement between the parties. The Minister of Territory, Ester Capella, defended the need to regulate this type of midterm rental. She argued it was necessary to close the "loopholes" in the Spanish housing law. These loopholes have led to an increase in temporal rentals in Barcelona to evade rent control.

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