The Minister of Interior, Public administration and housing, Meritxell Borràs, He has presented the report on the rental market in Catalonia 2015 and has announced the creation of a new law of urban leases catalana (LAU) the next year. In the presentation, they have also participated the Secretary of housing and urban improvement, Carles Sala; the president of the Chamber of urban property in Barcelona, ??Joan Ràfols, and the economist specializing in real estate cycles, Agustín Jové.

The report on the rental market in Catalonia 2015 It is based on the data collected by the Catalan land Institute * (INCASOL), Depositary entity of the bonds of the rental contracts, and allows you to get an idea of some key aspects of the rental market in Catalonia.

In 2015, is signed 141.000 new rental contracts in all Catalonia, a – 5,3 % the previous year. From these, 40.000 corresponding to rents in the city of Barcelona, ??which means a decline of the – 8,5 % with respect to the 2014.

In the metropolitan area, In 2015, It signed a – 9,1 % of contracts that the previous year. In the rest of Catalonia, the number of rental contracts is maintained with a moderate and sustained growth. In the Penedès, grew by + 4,4 % and in the rest of the territory, a + 1,6 %.

Despite the drop in the number of new contracts, for the second year in a row, the balance of new rental contracts remains positive, with more than 40.000 contracts across the country. Currently, the INCASÒL has more than 520.000 registered rental contracts.

Average rent

Rental prices have increased both the whole of Catalonia at Barcelona, ??In 2015.
– In the fourth quarter of 2015, the average rental in Catalonia was 572 €/month, a growth of the + 3,9 %, compared to the same period of last year.
– In the fourth quarter of 2015, the average rental in Barcelona is placed in 755 €/month, a growth of the + 7 %, compared to the same period of last year.
– In the metropolitan area, the increase is the 4 %, and in municipalities outside the metropolitan area remains in + 0,7 %.

The Government dismisses bubble symptoms in rent since, Although the prices have gone up, has decreased the number of contracts.

The expert in real estate data Agustín Jové pointed out that "in Catalonia, The 67 % the contracts are among the 301 in 600 €. In Barcelona, ??The 56 % the contracts are between the 450 in 750 €; 34 % is above the 750 €; and the 10 %, cost less than 450 € “.

The regional distribution of the rental market.

Barcelona and its metropolitan area concentrates the largest number of new rental contracts. There is also concentration in regions where there is tourism and seasonal rental, how the Tarragonès, the Gironès, the Alt Empordà, La Cerdanya, the Alt Urgell and Solsonès.

The rental income are higher in the regions where there is more demand, with two exceptions: the Vall d'Aran, where there is little rent – up to 10 rents for each 1.000 people – but more than 500 €/month, and el Garraf, where there is 15 in 20 rents for each 1.000 inhabitants, of more than 500 €/month.

In Barcelona

From 2013, the income tax return of the rentals in Barcelona increases and is situated at the level of the year 2006. On the other hand, reduce operations from that same year.

The increase in the rental Park has been more than 9.000 households in 2015 and the average price has been 735 €/month. Ciutat Vella, Eixample and Gracia are the districts with more rental contracts: more than 30 for each 1.000 inhabitants.

The district where the rent costs more money is passing of the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi 1.000 €/month. On the other hand, in Nou Barris, the average rental is close to the 500 €/month. Is compounded the polarization of the city, where the most expensive district is 2,03 Sometimes the cheapest.

There are two districts with the rent below 600 €/month: Horta-Guinardó and Nou Barris, they are also the Chamber and fifth in district, respectively.

A new law of urban leases catalana

The Minister of Interior, Meritxell Borràs, He announced that the Government is preparing a new law of urban leases catalana in front of the inefficiency of the current Spanish LAU, reformed in 2013 by the Government of the PP.

The current LAU "only takes into account the major tenants, not balanced the rights and obligations between landlords and tenants, It's not efficient ", stated Borrás, who designed the new draft for the second quarter of 2017.

"We will discuss with stakeholders, a cheap, local and University experts. We need this dialogue for a new modern LAU, they look for alternatives to buying and renting, new formulas of housing tenure, more options ", added.