The decision by the mayor of Barcelona to ban short-term holiday
rentals in the city is driven by his concern that an explosion in these
properties has led to the loss of permanent rental homes for local
residents.
Spain is the second most visited country in the world after France,
and Barcelona attracted 10 million visitors last year. It’s a huge
market for those who want to earn extra euros from renting out their
rooms.
Something similar has happened in neighbouring Portugal where the
popularity of Lisbon has reduced available rental stock in the city,
provoking an outcry from permanent residents.
Barcelona’s mayor Jaume Collboni said he wants to drive Airbnb out of
the city by not renewing licences for the more than 10,000 properties
approved for short-term rental when the licences expire in 2028. These
apartments "will be used by the city's residents or will go on the
market for rent or sale", the mayor said.
The Times in the UK says the mayor’s decision puts the Catalan city
at the forefront of a backlash against the effect of online-based
short-stay rentals on cities, “with the most radical global measure
yet”.
I am currently staying with my wife in an Airbnb in Dalat, Vietnam.
The traditional wooden home, built from salvaged materials by Mr Hung, a
local coffee farmer, is squeezed into a small, cramped street in the
heart of the city.
The house is basic but meets our needs. We shop at a small mart 50
metres from the house; eat at nearby Vietnamese restaurants and travel
by Grab. My wife had her hair styled in a shop metres up the [very
steep] street.
One morning Mr Hung came to make us coffee using beans from his own farm.
We are spending our money in the community where we are staying. In
return, we are rewarded by sharing the everyday lives of the locals. A
win-win, surely.
But are we depriving local residents of accommodation? It’s something
we had not thought too much about during previous Airbnb stays,
including some in Spain. Now we might have to.