Relief for local councils as rental rules ease
The city councils of Figueres and Banyoles have welcomed their removal from Catalonia's designated rental market stress zones, a change that lifts restrictions on private landlords and opens the rental market to more supply. The two Girona-area municipalities, among the largest in the province to exit the list, say they aim to remain outside these zones and see the shift as an opportunity to attract more long-term rental housing.
Local leaders urge continued collaboration
Miquel Noguer, mayor of Banyoles, said the priority now is monitoring how the market evolves and encouraging more property owners to enter the long-term rental sector.
Now we need to see how it develops and hope more rental housing becomes available, with owners choosing to put their properties on the market,
he said. Núria Bartolí, Figueres’ housing councillor, echoed the call for joint efforts between public authorities and private owners to improve legal security for landlords. Both officials acknowledged that despite exiting the stress zones, a significant shortage of rental housing remains in their cities.
Paradox of rising rents after regulatory relief
A notable trend has emerged in Figueres: rental prices have increased even as the city left the stress zone. Bartolí attributes this to the city’s previously low baseline rents before regulation, and she expects that as supply grows, price growth could stabilise.
Concerns from coastal rental sector
In contrast, stakeholders in Port de la Selva express caution. Josep Carbonés, owner of Agència Port de la Selva, believes the deregulation may push landlords toward long-term seasonal lets, rentals over 31 days, rather than permanent housing. These are in high demand from people working in Figueres but seeking coastal second homes. Carbonés noted that annual rentals in Port de la Selva are fully occupied, with prices ranging from €300 for small units to €1,000 for larger ones, averaging between €500 and €600. However, he criticised the lack of municipal planning support for multi-family housing, saying current policies favour single-family homes.
Call for better criteria and public housing
Carbonés also warned that upcoming 2028 regulations limiting tourist rental licences (HUT) from 700 to around 100 will further strain the rental market, possibly pushing more activity off the books. He argued that solving housing access requires public investment in social housing, not just deregulating small landlords. The Girona chapter of the College of Real Estate Agents (API) welcomed the change, with president Joan Company questioning why cities like Figueres and Banyoles, where rents are below the Catalan average, were ever included in stress zones. He expects the move to boost rental supply as owners gain confidence in a freer market. Company also called for stricter, more transparent criteria for future designations.
Looking ahead
While both councils remain cautious, they view the current situation as a chance to reshape local rental dynamics. Their success will depend on whether private owners respond by increasing supply and whether national or European economic policies, such as ECB interest rate decisions or Spanish inflation controls, alter the housing landscape again.
Reported by diaridegirona.cat, Diari de Girona.
