Your community can receive a subsidy for banning tourist apartments
The Barcelona City Council has launched a grant program for homeowners' associations that decide to include an explicit prohibition on tourist accommodation in their buildings in their bylaws. This measure offers a dual benefit: restoring residential harmony and providing financial assistance to cover the costs of the procedure.
If your community has been debating what to do about the tourist apartments in your building, now might be the time to take action. We'll explain everything you need to know.
01 · What does the grant consist of?
Through the Institut Municipal de l'Habitatge i Rehabilitació de Barcelona (IMHAB), the Barcelona City Council allocates 100,000 euros to subsidize the management costs involved in modifying or drafting new community statutes to limit tourist use on the property.
The call for applications is open from February 27, 2026 and is retroactive: communities that have approved the modification or creation of statutes from March 1, 2025 onwards can take advantage of it.
| Grant amounts Up to €1,500 for communities amending existing bylaws. Up to €2,500 for communities drafting entirely new bylaws. In both cases, the 50% administrative costs are covered. The available budget is sufficient for approximately 30 communities. Applications are processed strictly in the order they are received until the budget is exhausted: it is advisable not to wait. |
02 · What activities can be prohibited
The prohibition that the new statutes may include goes beyond typical tourist apartments. The clause may expressly prohibit:
- Tourist accommodation (HUT): The most common type, with a license for short-term holiday rentals.
- Guesthouses, hostels and residences: Any accommodation establishment that could be set up on the property.
- Other economic activities that disrupt coexistence: The wording can be broad to cover future uses not currently foreseen.
| Important: It does not have retroactive effect. Owners who already hold a valid tourist license at the time the statutory amendment is approved are not retroactively affected without their express consent. The prohibition applies to new licenses, not existing ones. |
03 · Requirements to access the grant
- Agreement at the Owners' Meeting: The amendment or creation of new bylaws must be approved by a four-fifths majority vote of the owners, who must also represent four-fifths of the building's ownership shares. This is a qualified majority, as required by Catalan law.
- Public deed before a notary: The new bylaws or their amendment must be formalized in a public deed. This is one of the main expenses covered by the grant.
- Registration in the Property Registry: For the prohibition to be effective against third parties—including future buyers of the property—the bylaws must be registered in the corresponding Property Registry. Without this step, the prohibition is not enforceable against those who are not current owners.
- Territorial scope: The call for applications comes from the Barcelona City Council. Participating homeowners' associations must be located within the municipality of Barcelona.
| Rustic Corner Tip A four-fifths majority can be difficult to achieve in buildings with investor owners or apartments already used for tourist accommodation. Before calling a meeting, it's advisable to conduct an informal survey to gauge support. A property manager or real estate advisor can help you prepare the proposal and supporting arguments. |
04 · Steps to apply
- Step 1 — Call an extraordinary meeting: Include on the agenda the proposal to amend or create bylaws to prohibit tourist use. Inform all owners in advance about the details of the available grant.
- Step 2 — Approve the amendment with a 4/5 majority: Collect the minutes of the meeting with the voting results. This is the document that certifies the agreement.
- Step 3 — Formalize the deed before a notary: Take the minutes to a notary to formalize the agreement as a public deed. This is the main cost covered by the grant.
- Step 4 — Register the bylaws in the Property Registry: Submit the deed to the corresponding Registry. Only from this moment on is the prohibition enforceable against third parties.
- Step 5 — Apply for the grant from IMHAB: Submit your application with the required supporting documentation through the Barcelona City Council. Applications are processed in the order they are received.
Official references and resources
Official announcement — Barcelona City Council (IMHAB):
ajuntament.barcelona.cat — Aid for communities that limit tourist apartments
Col·legi d'Administradores de Finques de Barcelona-Lleida (CAFBL):
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