A dozen Barcelona apartment blocks apply for grants to ban short-term rentals

At least 12 neihgbour groups in aparment blocks in Barcelona have applied for city grants to prohibit or restrict short-term rentals in their buildings, according to municipal data from the first month since the aid program was launched.

Short-term rentals are defined as stays of less than 31 days.

The subsidies cover 50% of management costs and are part of a joint initiative between the city council and property management associations. 

The grants offer a practical tool to address tensions linked to tourist apartments in residential buildings. Legal advisor Rosa Mari Peris argues that the most effective approach is to act early by embedding restrictions directly into building bylaws. "Prevention is better than cure," she said.

Launched on February 27, the program will remain open for six months or until funds are run out, meaning more groups can still apply through the summer. 

City officials say the current number of applications is only provisional. 

Financial support is capped at €1,500 for modifying existing bylaws and €2,500 for drafting new ones. The aid is available to homeowners' associations organised under horizontal property ownership. 

How to ban short-term rentals

Peris explains that the first step is for homeowners' associations to agree on what activities they want to restrict and then formally propose the changes at a residents' meeting. 

Approval requires a four-fifths majority of property owners, representing 80% of ownership shares.

After the meeting, administrators must send the minutes through a "reliable" method, such as registered mail or certified email. 

Owners who did not attend have 30 days to respond. If they do not, their votes are added to the majority in what is known as a 'deferred agreement'.

An important point of the entire procedure, Peris highlights, is registering the updated bylaws in the property registry. Without this, the rules would only apply to those who approved them, rather than binding future buyers as well.

No retroactive bans

Peris stresses that while communities can block new tourist apartments, they cannot ban those already operating with a valid license. 

"Rules, laws, and provisions never have retroactive effect," she said, noting that existing rentals remain protected.

Even so, she encourages communities to act proactively, especially in light of the city government's plan to revoke licenses for nearly 10,000 tourist apartments at the end of 2028.

She also believes awareness of the subsidy remains limited. "Many communities may not realise how disruptive short-term rentals can be," she said, pointing to frequent turnover of guests, arrivals at all hours, noise, and disturbances.

Enrique, a tenant in Barcelona's Eixample district, described the situation as "unbearable," citing repeated problems such as tourists arriving drunk in the early morning, ringing doorbells, or causing damage in common areas.