The Affordable Housing Act proposal presented by the European Commission on 9 September 2026 could become an important reference for cities facing strong housing and tourism pressure.
This is a proposal, not a final EU law. The text must continue through the legislative process.
What is housing pressure?
The proposal seeks a common methodology for identifying areas where housing availability and affordability are under particular pressure. Specific decisions will remain with the competent authorities.
Restrictions on short-term rentals
Where an authority wants to restrict housing uses such as short-term rentals, the proposed framework requires evidence that the activity significantly contributes to local pressure and that the measure is targeted, necessary and proportionate.
The three-year reference
Before certain restrictions are introduced, the proposal would require authorities to demonstrate a significant adverse effect on housing availability or affordability for at least three years and show that less restrictive measures would not be equally effective.
For owners: the European proposal does not itself order tourist homes to close. It establishes a framework for assessing and justifying certain public measures.
What could it mean for Barcelona?
Barcelona is precisely the kind of market where housing and tourism pressures intersect strongly. Future EU rules may influence how restrictions are justified, but they will not replace municipal planning or Catalan tourism law.
Why follow the file?
For owners, investors and operators, the evolution of the European text may be as relevant as a new local ordinance. The key is to distinguish between a proposal, an adopted rule and a specific measure.
Related reading: Valencia caps tourist homes at 2% per neighbourhood: what changes for owners and investors. An example of a neighbourhood-level municipal restriction that already applies, compared with an EU framework that is still a proposal.