Tourists in the center of Barcelona have driven up housing prices. A council initiative to ban tourist apartments in the city center hopes to combat this.
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00:00Alifia Conajero is protesting for affordable housing in Barcelona.
00:07Rents in her hometown have increased by about 70% over the last 10 years,
00:12according to the city council.
00:14The nationwide housing crisis is driving tens of thousands of protesters onto Spanish streets,
00:19especially in the country's tourist strongholds.
00:22Vacation rentals make me so mad.
00:26Because of them, we locals can't rent those homes anymore.
00:29The pensioner is worried about Barcelona.
00:33She says young people can no longer build a future here.
00:36Barcelona residents have long shared their city with people from all over the world.
00:41Millions of tourists visit every year.
00:44And the city is also popular with expats who stay here.
00:47Now housing is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive,
00:50and residents are being driven out of their neighbourhoods.
00:53The problem disproportionately affects low-income households.
01:00That's why the city has constructed 54 such apartments out of recycled shipping containers,
01:06to temporarily house people like Nadia while they look for a place.
01:10In my old apartment, they refused to renew the lease.
01:15It wasn't because of outstanding rent or anything like that.
01:19The building was being bought by investors, vulture funds, to turn it into tourist accommodations.
01:25Our home. My children lived in there. They went to school nearby.
01:29Nadia Chaibi Kaduri and her two children have been living here for two years.
01:35At least they've got a roof over their heads.
01:38Nadia works in translation.
01:40But as a single mother, with a single income,
01:43she says she has no chance of finding a regular apartment here.
01:47I work with people from many different countries.
01:52And the kind of prices they can pay make them extremely lucrative for landlords.
02:00So they wouldn't rent out their apartment to someone like me and my children for a thousand euros a month,
02:05when a tourist can pay, let's say, three thousand euros.
02:10So that's what they do.
02:13I'll tell you, three thousand euros is very safe.
02:17For years, Barcelona has been unable to get a grip on the housing crisis.
02:21The tourist industry, meanwhile, is booming.
02:26That's why the city council has decided on a radical step.
02:31Deputy Mayor Laia Bonnet is proud that Barcelona has issued an ultimatum.
02:37Noviembre del 2028.
02:40November 2028.
02:41From this date forward, holiday apartments would require a new licence.
02:46But we are saying Barcelona won't be issuing any.
02:50This will make an estimated 10,000 apartments available again.
02:56Paula Ginestar rents an apartment to tourists.
03:00Come in.
03:01Welcome.
03:02Paula is against the ultimatum.
03:03For her and her partner, the apartment is a means of additional financial security.
03:16What they're doing is abuse.
03:18We're practically being expropriated.
03:20Under this plan, Paula will lose her licence to rent the apartment.
03:25She thinks that's unfair.
03:27And that the city should distinguish between private landlords and large companies with hundreds of apartments.
03:33But she agrees something needs to be done.
03:35Rental prices are out of control here in Barcelona and in Madrid.
03:42But it's also starting in Valencia.
03:44It's crazy.
03:45But I really don't think the holiday rentals are to blame.
03:48Next door, at the laundrette, the owner agrees.
03:53Cleaning tourists' bed linens and towels is good business for Yadisa Duya Yamani here, in Barcelona's popular Poble Sec district.
04:00She would miss the work.
04:03They want everything done in 24 hours.
04:06That's what's good about it.
04:08That everything needs to be done in 24 hours, or in an hour.
04:12Then I charge double, or even triple.
04:15So it's good money.
04:20Tourism is a business, but with side effects.
04:25Barcelona's Poble Nu district is about 20 minutes' drive from the centre.
04:30Once home to blue-collar workers and fishermen, it's now a lucrative area, and they are being driven out.
04:36With an average monthly salary of under 2,000 euros, many can no longer afford to rent their homes.
04:42That's why Alicia Conejero supports the 2028 ultimatum.
04:47Renting an apartment like this is impossible for someone on a Spanish salary.
04:52Also, the apartments are not rented out long-term.
04:55They're rented out seasonally, for 11 months.
04:59So after 11 months, they can increase the rent again, or kick you out.
05:05Alicia got lucky.
05:07She lives in one of three Sostra Civic Housing Co-operative buildings.
05:11The co-operative is financed by members and project funds.
05:19It offers members a lifelong right to residence, without rent increases.
05:24Alicia pays around 600 euros for her small apartment.
05:27More residential buildings are reportedly planned to tackle the crisis.
05:31In three years, four babies were born here.
05:35That makes sense.
05:36Young residents can plan their lives here.
05:39They know they won't be thrown out.
05:41They can live, and above all, they can afford the rent here.
05:45Alicia hopes that Barcelona will remain a home for those who live here.
05:53Of course, tourists are still welcome, but the city is fighting to strike a balance.
05:59Thanks...
06:00Advocating.
06:01…