The Government of Catalonia has acknowledged that the long-term residential rental market has lost momentum since rent controls were introduced in designated high-demand areas. According to the Annual Report on the Catalan Economy, the number of new long-term rental contracts has fallen significantly over the past few years, dropping from nearly 168,000 contracts in 2021 to just over 108,000 in 2025, representing a decline of approximately 36%.
The report notes that while rent regulation has helped slow the rise in rental prices across many municipalities, it has also affected the supply of available homes. Many property owners have chosen to withdraw their homes from the traditional rental market and instead offer them as seasonal rentals, room rentals, or coliving properties, which are currently subject to different regulations. This trend is particularly noticeable in Barcelona and other municipalities experiencing high housing demand.
The Catalan Government also acknowledges that rent controls alone are not enough to solve the structural challenges facing the housing market. It argues that increasing the supply of affordable housing, encouraging the construction of new homes, and strengthening public housing policies are essential measures to improve access to housing, particularly for young people and low-income families.
These figures highlight that the main challenge remains finding the right balance between protecting tenants and ensuring a sufficient supply of rental properties. Both public authorities and real estate professionals agree that expanding the housing stock will be crucial to stabilizing the market and improving housing accessibility in the coming years.
News article from idealista.com