On 1 January 2026, the law incorporating new housing measures came into force. This regulation of the Generalitat de Catalunya aims to regulate the rental of housing on a temporary basis and the rental of rooms.
Here are the main changes:
What rents does it affect?
- All temporary rentals of homes that do not have a tourist purpose (For example: temporary rentals for studies or similar).
- The rental of a home fragmented by rooms or other similar forms.
Price caps in stressed areas:
- In areas declared as a stressed residential market, seasonal rentals intended to meet the need for housing must also respect the price limits in accordance with the current reference index.
- In the case of renting by rooms, the sum of the rents of all the rooms of the same home located in an area of a stressed residential market may not exceed the rent ceiling established for that area.
What new requirements must be included in the seasonal rental contract?
- The uses and reasons for the seasonal rental must be indicated, which must be duly justified by the documentation that will be attached to the contract and that will be presented and registered with INCASÒL at the time of depositing the deposit.
More guarantees for the parties
- Although these are temporary rental contracts, if the requirement to meet the need for housing is met, they will be regulated by the same rules as the lease of permanent housing, both for owners and tenants.
Inspections and possible sanctions
- The reform provides for greater control, through the improvement of the regulation of inspections and the creation of the Commission for the Supervision of Housing Lease Contracts, in order to check compliance with the regulations and apply the corresponding sanctions.
What about contracts that have already been signed?
- All temporary housing lease contracts and room rentals signed from 1 January 2026 will be subject to the new regulation. Contracts signed previously will continue to be subject to the regulations in force at the time of signing.
