Catalan Government Extends Tense Housing Zones, Adds Three Alt Urgell Towns Amid Rent Surge

The Catalan government has extended its tense residential market zones (ZMRT) for another year, adding Montferrer i Castellbò and Ribera d'Urgellet in Alt Urgell to the list alongside La Seu d'Urgell, as housing access problems worsen from rent increases and supply shortages.

The revised designation now spans 302 municipalities in Catalonia, an increase from 271, based on the yearly housing market assessment. Among 53 new entries are the two Alt Urgell towns, which qualify due to affordability strain—where housing costs exceed 30% of household income or rise more than three points above the consumer price index.

These pressures stem partly from Andorra's influence. In Montferrer i Castellbò, average rents reached 826.67 euros in 2025, up from 676.92 euros the previous year and around 675 euros in 2023; they had last fallen below 600 euros in 2021 at 543.75 euros. Ribera d'Urgellet saw a slight drop to 643.76 euros last year from 653.67 euros, following a jump from 487 euros in 2022 to 654.58 euros in 2023. La Seu d'Urgell remained fairly steady, with first-quarter 2026 rents at 558.13 euros, close to 569.70 euros a year earlier and 566.69 euros in 2024 per INCASOL data; levels were last under 500 euros in 2022 at 472.61 euros.

Under ZMRT regulations, new rental agreements cannot exceed the latest valid contract from the past five years, with annual adjustments. Owners with five or more urban properties must follow the official reference price index.

Across Catalonia, 118 existing zones continue, impacting 5.92 million people or 72.9% of the population. Meanwhile, 22 areas—including Lleida, Cervera and Guissona—exit the list after conditions eased, affecting 634,171 residents. Overall affected population has declined from seven million to 6.1 million, even as the municipality total grew.