> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Half of Spain’s Rental Listings Now Seasonal - URL: https://barna.news/half-of-spains-rental-listings-now/ - Published: 2026-09-10T09:47:16.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-10T11:30:10.000Z - Description: New data reveals a sharp shift from long-term to short-term rentals, driven by legal loopholes and soaring demand in tourist hotspots. - Author: Laia Serra - Tags: housing, Trending Now ## Seasonal Rentals Surge Amid Long-Term Housing Shortage A dramatic transformation in Spain’s rental market has seen nearly half of all listings in major cities shift to seasonal lets, according to housing platform Idealista. In Barcelona, seasonal rentals now make up 46% of the total rental supply, while in San Sebastián the figure stands at 38%. Nationally, seasonal rentals have surged by 55% and account for up to 14% of all listings, while long-term rental availability has plummeted. ### Barcelona and San Sebastián Hit Hardest In Barcelona, long-term rental properties have dropped by 45% over the past year, with the city’s traditional rental stock falling 75% over five years. San Sebastián has seen a 32% decline in long-term rentals and a 77% year-on-year rise in seasonal listings. Both cities now classify over 30% of their rental stock as temporary, driven by landlords exploiting a legal loophole that allows them to bypass rent control laws by offering short-term contracts. ### Landlords Shift Strategy in Key Cities The shift is most pronounced in high-demand urban and coastal areas. Málaga has seen a 466% increase in seasonal rentals over five years, Alicante 309%, and Valencia 276%. Madrid has experienced a 159% rise in seasonal supply, with 16% of its rental market now temporary. In contrast, long-term rental supply has fallen by 22% in Madrid and 17% nationwide in the first quarter of 2024 alone. > The boom in seasonal rentals is so great that it has more than tripled in the last five years, with a growth of 232%. ### Government Denounces Practice as Fraud The Spanish government has declared this shift a form of fraud, arguing that many landlords are misclassifying long-term rentals as seasonal to avoid regulated pricing and tenant protections. Despite this, enforcement remains limited. In less pressured markets like Soria, Lugo, and Ceuta, seasonal rentals remain negligible, accounting for 0% of listings. ### Only a Handful of Cities See Growth in Long-Term Supply A small number of cities have seen increases in long-term rental availability, including Huesca (up 112%), Jaén (55%), and Murcia (4%). However, these gains are dwarfed by losses in larger urban centres. In Oviedo, Las Palmas, and Palma, long-term rental supply has dropped by more than 45% over five years. --- The data underscores a deepening housing crisis for residents, as affordable long-term homes vanish from the market. Tenants and housing activists warn that without stronger regulation, the trend will continue to displace locals and inflate rental costs in Spain’s most desirable cities. --- *Reported by inspain.news, theolivepress.es, idealista.com, eldiario.es.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [Barcelona Rent Market Fails Young Locals](https://barna.news/barcelona-rent-market-fails-young-locals/) - [Barcelona area plans 6,000 subsidised homes](https://barna.news/barcelona-area-plans-6-000-subsidised/) - [Foreign-Owned Properties Double in Barcelona by 2026](https://barna.news/foreign-owned-properties-double-in/) - [Housing speculation bill paused after legal ruling](https://barna.news/housing-speculation-bill-paused-after/)