Month-to-month rental in Barcelona is once again at the center of legal and administrative debate following the approval of a new regional law that introduces significant changes to the regulation of temporary rentals. In a context of growing pressure on the housing market, on December 18, 2025, the Parliament of Catalonia approved the Llei d’adopció de mesures urgents en matèria d’habitatge i urbanisme (Law on the adoption of urgent measures in the field of housing and urban planning), a law that redefines the criteria applicable to seasonal contracts and strengthens the control mechanisms over certain types of leases.
This new regulation directly affects owners, managers, and tenants who use temporary rentals as a housing solution in Barcelona and throughout Catalonia. Its main objective is to more clearly differentiate between legitimate temporary use and use that, in practice, functions as a primary residence.
Who is affected by the new temporary rental law in Barcelona?
One of the central pillars of the regulation is the regulation of temporary rentals. The law is based on a presumption of use as a primary residence, which can only be rebutted if the real reason justifying the temporary nature of the contract is clearly and sufficiently proven.
In practice, this represents a significant change from the way many contracts have been formalized until now. It is no longer sufficient to classify a contract as “temporary”; it will be essential to provide documentary evidence of the reason for its temporary nature and to demonstrate that the actual use of the dwelling is not as a habitual residence.
The regulation establishes two broad categories of seasonal contracts, each with a different legal regime and specific requirements in terms of control and accreditation. The regulation distinguishes between seasonal contracts for recreational or tourism purposes and those motivated by professional, work, academic, medical, or other justified temporary reasons. This distinction is decisive, as it defines the applicable regulations, the calculation of rent, and the required documentation.
Temporary rental contracts for tourism, vacation, or leisure use
When the temporary rental contract is for recreational, vacation, or leisure use, it is considered a lease for non-residential use. These contracts can be formalized at any time of the year, but the new regulation significantly strengthens the formal and administrative requirements.
Specifically, the contract must expressly state the recreational or vacation purpose, provide documentary evidence of this, record the tenant’s habitual residence, and register the security deposit, together with the supporting documentation, with INCASÒL.
With these requirements, the law reinforces administrative control and limits the use of this type of contract when there is no real leisure or tourism end.
Temporary rental contracts for work, study, or medical reasons
In temporary rental contracts for professional, work, academic, medical, or other justified reasons, the law introduces a significant change: even if the duration is limited, the housing rental regime applies in key areas such as deposits and guarantees, the calculation and updating of rent, increases for improvements, and general and service expenses.
In addition, the contract must expressly state the reason for the temporary nature of the lease, provide documentary evidence (employment contract, academic enrollment, medical report, etc.), state the tenant’s habitual residence, and register the security deposit, together with the documentation, at INCASÒL.
In practice, this means that many contracts that were previously signed as temporary rentals could be subject to the habitual residence regime if the reason is not sufficiently proven or if the administration considers that the actual use is not truly temporary.
What is the new temporary rental law in Barcelona?
The new regulations are strictly regional and only apply in Catalonia. They introduce significant changes to the legal framework for housing, including reforms to Law 18/2007 on the right to housing.
Among the areas it regulates most prominently are temporary rentals, room rentals, the creation of the Register of Large Holders, the strengthening of the inspection system, and the extension of the right of first refusal and repurchase. Outside Catalonia, contracts continue to be governed by current state regulations.
When does the new regulation come into force?
Although the law has already been approved by the Parliament, it has not yet been published in the DOGC (Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia), so it is not formally applicable at this time. However, its publication is expected imminently, and some measures will be directly applicable from the moment it comes into force, while others will be pending regulatory development.
Given this scenario, it is essential to anticipate, review the types of contracts that affect you, and adapt the management of month-to-month rentals in Barcelona to this more demanding regulatory framework, where justification of the temporary nature of the rental and compliance with documentation requirements will be decisive in ensuring legal certainty for owners and managers.
