Lack of affordable rentals hits Lleida students
With less than a month before the start of the 2026–2027 academic year, university students from Lleida are still searching for housing in Barcelona. High rental prices and landlords refusing to rent to students have turned the search into a race against time. Arnau, a student from Lleida, has been using multiple housing apps since mid-June and has sent numerous requests for viewings or further information. He has received no responses. Nora, another Lleida student, lived in a residence during her first year and secured shared housing last year under an 11-month temporary lease. However, she was informed that the property owner decided to redirect the flat to tourist use following new regulations, leaving her once again without a place to live. Dani, also studying in Barcelona, said finding housing "almost comes down to luck." He cited price as a major barrier, with rents for shared flats ranging between €1,800 and €2,400 per month, costs that may rise further. Some landlords inflate prices by highlighting minor luxuries, he added.
Privacy concerns and landlord reluctance
Students report that many landlords demand excessive personal information just to schedule viewings, including income details, raising data protection concerns. Some property owners explicitly avoid renting to young people, compounding the challenge. Gonzalo Bernardos, economist and University of Barcelona professor, stated on social media that master's and postgraduate programmes are losing students due to the housing shortage caused by flawed legislation. He warned the issue extends beyond individual hardship, threatening businesses around universities such as shops, bars and leisure venues.
New city measures aim to improve access
The Barcelona Municipal Council Plenary has definitively approved an ordinance regulating affordable pricing for dotational housing facilities and student residences located on designated public land. The measure aims to support vulnerable groups, including young people, students and older adults, by setting accessible price benchmarks and defining eligibility criteria based on user profiles and stay duration. Under this ordinance, approved on 31 October 2025, such accommodations must serve individuals with temporary needs and difficulties in achieving independence. Uses include healthcare, urban development impacts, work or study purposes. The rules apply specifically to facilities on land classified for community equipment use. Additionally, on 27 March 2026, the full council approved an urban planning amendment declaring all city housing units as "for permanent residential use." This step, driven initially by Comuns in 2024, aims to restrict non-residential uses such as short-term rentals and secondary residences. The move targets landlords who shift properties to tourist lets to bypass rental price controls. The amendment, backed by PSC, Comuns and ERC, requires ratification by the Barcelona provincial urbanism subcommittee of the Generalitat, a procedural step expected to proceed. Future special plans will define conditions for non-residential use, similar to existing frameworks for hotels and hostels. Laia Bonet, Deputy Mayor for Urbanism, said during debate that recent evictions, like the case in Gràcia involving investment funds converting flats into high-cost coliving spaces, show the need for stronger regulatory tools. She stressed the city’s intent to control not only prices through housing laws but also how properties are used.
Finding a flat almost comes down to luck.
Primary sources: Ramon. Reported by segre.com, Clara Blanchar, Segre.
