Reactions to the proposed regulation of tourist apartments
The proposal presented by Jaume Collboni to put an end to tourist apartments in Barcelona from November 2028 has generated various reactions. JuntsBCN has criticized this measure, which implies not renewing tourist licenses starting this year, which could result in the disappearance of the 10,000 legal tourist apartments that currently exist in the Catalan capital. According to councilor Damià Calvet, this proposal is perceived as ‘improvised and ideological’, and has pointed out that half of these licenses are currently not in operation.
Points of responsibility and criticism
Damià Calvet has blamed Collboni for the housing crisis in Barcelona, arguing that his party is responsible for the policies that have contributed to this situation. Calvet has expressed that it is a mistake for the municipal government to talk about serious housing problems as if his party had no responsibility in this regard. In addition, he has announced that his party will amend the proposal to prevent it from paralyzing the sector and will present allegations. He has also expressed the need for more agile urban planning and the repeal of the rental price limitation policy.
Assessment of other political forces
For her part, from Barcelona en Comú, councilor Janet Sanz has downplayed Collboni’s proposal, indicating that it is not a new announcement and that it is the decree of the Generalitat of November 2023 that forces Barcelona to eliminate the apartments tourist. Likewise, she has pointed out that, thanks to the PSC, when these apartments stop being tourist flats, they will become seasonal rentals. The president of the Esquerra municipal group in Barcelona City Council, Elisenda Alamany, has positively valued Collboni’s decision, highlighting the work carried out by the Government of the Generalitat in this area.
