Two years after the introduction of strict rent controls in Catalonia, the rental market in the capital of the region presents an unpleasant surprise for the initiators of the reform. According to recent data from the Catalan government (INCASÒL) for the first quarter of 2026, the average rental price is showing steady growth, and the number of available properties is still at an all-time low.
According to the results of the first quarter, the average monthly rent under new contracts increased by 4.6% compared to the same period last year, reaching 1,137 euros. The rental price per square meter also increased by 4.3%, to 16.9 euros. This is happening against the background of the fact that the main purpose of the restrictions was precisely to suppress inflation and reduce the cost of renting housing for the population.
Although the Catalan government notes that the average rent is still 4.7% lower than immediately before the introduction of controls in 2024, these statistics do not reflect the alarming trend of recent months. The initial drop in prices has been replaced by steady growth: over the past year, rent has risen in price by 4.6%, which negates the previously achieved successes.
The only positive aspect was the increase in the number of concluded contracts by 7.1% compared to last year, to 8,156 contracts per quarter. However, this indicator is still catastrophically far from the norm: the average value over the past ten years is about 11,338 contracts. Thus, market activity remains 28% below the historical level, and about 3,200 families who could rent a house under normal conditions are left without new options.
Experts emphasize that price control does not solve the fundamental problem of housing shortage. The rent restriction cannot create new square meters, but only leads to "rationing" of the market. As a result, only those tenants who already live in apartments with a protected rate benefit, and new applicants face fierce competition.
The greatest difficulties are experienced by young people, the self-employed and low-income families, who often remain at the end of the queue due to stricter demands from landlords. Homeowners, in turn, are withdrawing facilities from rental circulation, repurposing them, or becoming extremely selective in choosing tenants, which only exacerbates the shortage.
Source: Spanish Property Insight
