"They Don't Speak Catalan or Spanish"
Victòria Pagès, a well-known Catalan actress famed for her roles in TV3 series such as El cor de la ciutat, Ventdelplà, and the children's programme Nets on Súper3, has publicly condemned the impact of expats and foreign investors on housing in Barcelona. Speaking on El Balcó de la SER Catalunya, Pagès described how her long-standing Eixample neighbourhood has transformed from a community of elderly residents and local families into a high-rent zone dominated by foreign buyers and tenants. "When I moved in, everyone was elderly or their children," she said. "Now foreign investors have started buying them, and some Germans and Austrians moved in who were charging a fortune and people were paying it."
Rising Rents and Language Barriers
Pagès highlighted not only the financial pressure but also cultural isolation caused by new arrivals who do not speak Catalan or Spanish. She recounted interactions with neighbours who admitted they had no intention of learning even basic greetings like "Bon dia" or "Buenos días."
"But can you live in Barcelona?"
She questioned one tenant: "Can you live in Barcelona if you don’t speak the language? They said, 'We don't need to, we don't need it for anything.' It's shocking!" The actress said that when former tenants were evicted after their landlord, whom she identified as a Chinese woman living abroad, decided to raise the rent, she responded sarcastically: "Oh, of course, welcome! Because now others are coming who will pay more than you. Do you think you'll stay here for long?"
Eixample Rent Soars Above City Average
Pagès' experience reflects broader trends. According to official Q1 2026 data from INCASOL (Institut Català del Sòl), published by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the average rent in Eixample is €16.71 per square metre per month, amounting to approximately €1,253 for a 75 m² flat. On AffordWhere, second-hand contracts for one-bedroom apartments in Eixample range between €1,600 and €1,800 per month, about 10% above Barcelona’s median rent. This contrasts with first-hand leases, which are priced between €1,400 and €1,600 monthly. Within Eixample, prices vary by sub-neighbourhood: la Dreta de l'Eixample averages €17.87/m², while el Fort Pienc is lower at €14.45/m².
Displacement Amid Tourism and Investment
Eixample hosts 4,896 licensed tourist flats, according to 2026 municipal data. The area remains one of the city's most architecturally significant, home to Gaudí landmarks including Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. Despite its central location and excellent metro access, around 8 minutes to the city centre, rising costs are pushing out long-term residents. In July 2026, 1,368 homes came up for rent across Barcelona, a 16.4% increase compared to the same month last year. Pagès concluded with dismay at the latest change: "Well, they've already been kicked out, and now some Lebanese women have arrived, who are even richer than the Germans who left. It's incredible!"
Reported by enpantalla.cat, Barcelona Rent, AffordWhere, kaggle.com, getprio.io.
