In Barcelona, the Spanish Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez, has applauded the city council's decision not to renew 10,000 tourist flat licences when they expire in 2028. Speaking to ACN, Rodríguez indicated that this measure could be extended to other locations, though she acknowledged it would not be suitable for all of Spain.
Rodríguez specifically mentioned the possibility of similar limitations in tourist cities such as Málaga or Seville, or in areas with high housing demand like the Pyrenees. This approach would allow the business model to continue in other places where it boosts the local economy, according to the minister.
Tackling Speculative Buying
The minister also endorsed prohibiting speculative property buying and supported initiatives from the Catalan government to regulate it. "It is a complex issue from a legal point of view, but I understand that political groups and the Generalitat are addressing it with great rigour," Rodríguez stated. She believes it is "worth taking the step" and confirmed that the Spanish government has also commissioned its own legal reports. "It is about governing the market, not letting the market govern us," Rodríguez affirmed.
Housing Plan Funding for Catalonia
The Spanish government plans to convene the Sectoral Housing Conference in the second half of May. This conference will approve the criteria for distributing the first €800 million tranche of a €7 billion plan aimed at tackling the housing crisis. "I hope Catalonia will be one of the first communities with which we can sign, because there is absolute complicity," Rodríguez admitted.
The Spanish government is currently developing the administrative mechanisms to transfer an initial portion of these funds starting in July. Catalonia is eligible to receive €1.015 billion by 2030, with approximately €120 million expected this year, Rodríguez confirmed.
