Collboni announces the conversion of office buildings into residential buildings

BarcelonaThe mayor of Barcelona, ​​Jaume Collboni, wants to end "the exodus of Barcelona residents who must leave their city," and he wants to do so by focusing on housing during the second half of his term. In this regard, the Socialist leader has announced a "second wave" of measures to increase the city's housing supply. One of these measures will be the conversion of office buildings into residential buildings, but he will also promote "large-scale renovations" and encourage the rental of vacant apartments, providing legal security for their owners.

Collboni made his announcement during the event celebrating the Socialist Party's two-year mandate at Barcelona City Hall. At the World Trade Center, accompanied by the President of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, the mayor emphasized that the Barcelona City Council has long been focusing on the housing crisis, which has led to the flight of many young people from the city because they cannot afford to pay rent or afford to buy an apartment. Collboni highlighted some of the measures implemented so far, such as the regulation of rental prices and the ban on tourist apartments in 2028. These are government actions to address "the biggest housing crisis in the history" of Barcelona after 10 years of "astronomical" price increases, in Collboni's words.

"We have to do everything in our power, articulate all the levers at our disposal to ensure there is more housing available in the city. Mobilize all public and private resources and all the mechanisms at our disposal," Collboni said during the event, in which he assured that "the assurance" will serve to ensure that housing "stops being a problem" and Barcelona becomes a city in which "people can live."

For his part, Salvador Illa has stressed the need for administrations to decide to "intervene in the market," especially in cities under pressure such as the Catalan capital.