Smaller Households, Rising Demand
The Urban Property Chamber of Tarragona (Cambra de la Propietat Urbana de Tarragona) has called for a reassessment of housing policies, citing changing demographics and rising demand in coastal municipalities. Average household size across the province has fallen, with Tarragona city recording 2.53 people per main residence, Reus 2.62, Tortosa 2.63 and Deltebre 2.67, according to the Chamber’s analysis of demographic and housing data. This trend reflects a broader shift towards single-person households and couples without children, the Chamber said, meaning more homes are needed to accommodate the same number of residents.
The social reality is evolving faster than the housing stock. We must plan not just for how many people we’ll have, but how they will live.
Coastal Growth Outpaces Construction
Between 2020 and 2024, population growth in the Tarragona province was heavily concentrated in coastal towns. Calafell saw the largest increase with 5,290 new residents, followed by Tarragona city (+6,636), Salou (+3,334), Cambrils (+2,951), el Vendrell (+2,834) and Torredembarra (+1,800), data from the Chamber shows. Despite this growth, new housing construction has not kept pace. The Chamber warns that the imbalance threatens to undermine quality of life unless urban planning adapts.
Rental Market Dominated by Small Landlords
The Chamber also challenged the notion that Tarragona’s rental market is controlled by large property firms. In 2025, 91% of rental properties in Tarragona city were owned by individuals, with 66% of landlords owning just one property. Ninety-two per cent of private owners held five or fewer homes. According to data from the General Directorate of the Cadastre, 91% of corporate landlords also owned between one and five properties, indicating a market largely composed of small-scale investors. The Chamber urged policymakers to avoid stigmatising small landlords, many of whom rely on rental income as a financial supplement.
Second Homes Outnumber Main Residences in Coastal Towns
In several coastal municipalities, second homes significantly outnumber primary residences. Cambrils has 17,587 non-primary homes compared to 14,146 main residences; Salou has 19,884 second homes versus 11,639 primary ones. Calafell and Torredembarra also show high ratios of non-primary housing. This shift, the Chamber said, further complicates housing availability for permanent residents and underscores the need for policies that distinguish between residential and tourist-driven demand.
Reported by DiariTots21, diarimes.com, actualtarragona.cat, ACN, reusdigital.cat, radiocambrils.cat, laciutat.cat, diaridetarragona.com, cpubcn.com, ARA, diaricatalunya.cat, foro-ciudad.com.
