A top court has backed measures to implement restrictions on tourist flat licences in a popular Spanish holiday hotspot. The proposed law aims to reduce the number of tourist apartments in areas with housing shortages in Catalonia – an area known for its lively beach resorts and in particular for its capital Barcelona.
The housing crisis, marked by shortages and soaring prices, has led to anti-tourist protests in several cities such as Barcelona and Seville. The influx of foreign buyers and mass tourism are believed by local campaigners to be fuelling the situation. 50 deputies from the Conservative Partido Popular(PP) launched a legal challenge to the legislation last month, claiming the proposal will be an invasion of state powers and that it violates equality and legal certainty.
Spain’s Constitutional Court has rejected these claims, ruling it does not violate constitutional protections for private property, local autonomy, or judicial rights.
The measure is now set to be approved by the regional parliament this month.
Once passed, the law will severely limit the number of tourist rental licenses to 10 per 100 residents and require a permit for any property used for tourism.
The court explained that the law is needed to protect urban environments and ensure long-term housing availability.
House prices in Barcelona are soaring, with the city experiencing record highs in both property and rental prices, making it one of the most expensive cities in Spain to live in.
In a bid to address the house crisis and the rocketing costs for residents, Barcelona’s Mayor Jaume Collboni announced that the ciy plans to ban new tourist rental licenses and will not renew existing ones by November 2028.
This means there will be no more apartments legally rented out to tourists.
At the time, Mr Collboni said: “We are confronting what we believe is Barcelona’s largest problem.
“More supply of housing is needed, and the measures we’re presenting are to provide more supply so that the working middle class does not have to leave the city because they can’t afford housing.”
While tourism is vital to the Spanish economy, its impact on residents’ quality of life has come under increased scrutiny over the past year, with protests erupting in several major cities and resort towns.