Overview
- The European Commission draft reported on Tuesday would allow local authorities to restrict purchases of second homes and non-primary short‑term rentals in officially identified high‑pressure housing areas if they document at least three years of adverse impact on affordability.
- The draft bars curbs on short‑term lets that take place in a host’s main home, does not apply retroactively to already‑owned second residences, and urges cities to try less‑restrictive tools such as caps, registrations or fiscal incentives first.
- Barcelona’s city leaders hailed the text as an endorsement of their plan to remove licensed tourist flats by 2028 while the industry group Apartur says the regulation’s strict evidence, proportionality and legal‑certainty tests undercut that plan.
- If the College of Commissioners signs off the draft it must still pass the Council and European Parliament, where right‑leaning parties and sector lobbies have voiced opposition that could change or block the rules.
- Practical effects will depend on data and local studies because tourist flats make up a small share of Barcelona’s housing stock and some research suggests removed short‑lets may not fully return to the long‑term market, creating legal and policy uncertainty for residents, owners and platforms.