Barcelona Imposes 150% Property Tax Surcharge on Tourist Flats

Barcelona City Council has provisionally approved a significant property tax surcharge targeting owners of tourist flats, with rates reaching up to 150% for those holding four or more licenses. This measure, supported by a recent Spanish government decree, is a direct response to the city's ongoing struggle with overtourism and a severe housing crisis. By increasing the financial burden on property owners who operate short-term rentals, the city aims to discourage the proliferation of tourist flats and encourage the conversion of these units back into long-term residential housing.

The surcharge is tiered based on the number of licenses held: a 50% surcharge for one license, 100% for two or three, and 150% for four or more. This policy is part of a broader strategy by the local government to phase out tourist flat licenses entirely in the coming years. As the city prepares for this transition, the market for short-term rentals is expected to contract significantly, potentially altering the landscape of accommodation options for visitors who have traditionally relied on platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com for city stays.

This measure primarily impacts owners of tourist accommodation licenses (HUTs) within Barcelona. Travellers who prefer staying in private apartments rather than hotels will likely face reduced availability and increased costs as property owners adjust their pricing models to cover the new tax liabilities.

Makutet expects this move to trigger a permanent shift in Barcelona's tourism infrastructure, forcing a migration of visitors toward regulated hotel districts. While this may alleviate some pressure on residential neighborhoods, it risks creating a 'luxury-only' tourism market where only high-budget travellers can afford central, short-term rentals.