Housing Policy

Barcelona's Housing Crisis

In Barcelona, Spain, the large amount of both legal and illegal short-term rentals throughout the country has driven up housing prices. As the number of illegal short-term rentals has increased exponentially and been blamed for worsening inflation, the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has announced a ban on all short-term tourist rentals throughout the city. This brief will explore the history and context of this issue, the impact of this issue on society, and policy options going forwards.