- Under LAU, rental of housing is a permanent need for housing and the rental of the season is a lease for other use (arts. 2 and 3). [1][2].
- Housing: The contract is shorter than five years (seven if the landlord is a jurisian) and is extended annually to that minimum. [1].
- Seasonal contract regulates the will of the parties, Título III LAU and Códio Civil. [1].
- Ley 11/025 Catalonia (since 1 January 2026): the housing contract is permanent regardless of the duration and temporary work, study or treatment is subject to the housing standards on bail, guarantees and payment [2].
- Articles Ley 11/2025 on temporary contracts are challenged before the Constitutional Court [6]Follow BOE: The rates for temporary leases and IVA changed in October 2026.
What is the difference between long-term and seasonal rents by law?
Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU, Ley 29/1994) has two different regimes: rental of a building that is suitable for housing and whose main purpose is the permanent need for a tenant to live (art. 2). Rental for other use is a lease with a different main purpose; rental is explicitly named for a season, summer or any other, and a lease for business (art. 3) [1].
All treaties are subject to the peremptory Títulos I and IV. The housing is further regulated by the will of the parties within the Título II and otherwise by the will of the parties, followed by the Tiquilo III and Códio Civil (art. 4) [1]. In a seasonal contract, the parties are freer in terms and conditions, and the tenant has fewer guarantees.
What rules apply to a long-term treaty?
The term of the party is determined by the party itself: if it is shorter than five years (seven if the lessor is a jurist), the contract shall be extended annually to that minimum until the lessee has given 30 days ’ notice of departure (art. 9); after a minimum, it shall be extended every year to three years unless the parties have warned each other in advance (art. 10). The lessor may terminate the contract after six months, with 30 days ’ notice (art. 11). (fianza) one month ’s payment and an additional guarantee under a contract of up to five years ’ duration not exceeding two (art. 36) [1]Bails are deposited in INCAS . [3].
In the tense market area, the new contract should not exceed the last five-year indexing fee; if the housing has not been delivered for five years, the price index limit is applied [3]Barcelona is included in the list of such municipalities [7].
What changed for the seasonal contracts in Catalonia?
Ley 11/025 Catalonia, which entered into force on 1 January 2026, added article 66 bis to Ley 18/2007. Rental of housing is considered permanent if it serves housing needs, regardless of the duration. [2].
A contract concluded for a time because of work, studies, treatment, waiting for housing or similar reasons is subject to the housing standards on bail, guarantees, fixing and updating of fees, raising the fees for improvement and expenses [2]The purpose is to record, confirm and deposit documents with the register. [2].
If the contract has been extended without a valid reason, the rules of permanent residence are applied, with an amount of time from the original contract, the same is true for the new contract with the same tenant for the same apartment until the lessor proves that the reasons remain. [2].
How do you compare the three regimes?
| Sign | Permanent housing | Temporary contract for work or study | Rest and vacation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basis | LAU, Título II | Ley 18/2007, art. 66 bis, para. [2] | LAU, Título III; art. 66 bis, para. 4 [1][2] |
| Minimum period | Five years, seven for a lawman. [1] | Not listed in article 66 bis; no renewals apply to housing standards [2] | By treaty [1] |
| Bail | 1 monthly fee [1] | By housing standards [2] | 2 monthly fees [1] |
| Limit of payment | There's a lot of tension in the market. [3] | Housing standards on rent [2] | Housing standards do not apply [2] |
Is there another Llei 11/2020 in force and what is disputed in 2026?
Llei 11/2020 on the containment of rents is still found in the announcements, but the Constitutional Court in Sentencia 37/2022 declared its articles 1, 6-13, 15 and 16.2 and a number of additional provisions invalid [5]The fee limit is now based on Ley 12/2023 and Catalan acts, including Decret llei 1/2025, which imposed liability for a temporary contract circumventing the rules [4][8].
Article 5, paragraphs 5 and 6, of Ley 11/025 (Temporary treaties and rooms) is challenged by a group of deputies before the Constitutional Court; the action was taken on 9 June 2026. [6]We have not found any information on the suspension of these articles, but check the status before signing.
Can the rules of temporary leases be changed?
Follow BOE: Temporary lease and IVA standards changed in October 2026. Articles Ley 11/2026 on temporary contracts are challenged before the Constitutional Court [6], so check the current version of article 66 bis Ley 18/2007 [2].
What depends on the incident?
The purpose of the contract, the documents of the contract and the registration of the pledge are theirs in each case. As Ajuntament and the courts apply article 66 bis in practice, we do not know. A contract named seasonal may be a contract of residence with all its guarantees, so show it to your lawyer before signing. If you come by a residence permit, look at it. Residence permit in Barcelona, How to find an apartment, Catalonia lease and bail; document assistance: documents and escortsI. Tourism: HUT.
Frequent issues
What's the difference between a season lease and a long-term lease in Barcelona?
Can you make a contract in Barcelona for 11 months?
What's the collateral for the seasonal lease?
What do you do to a tenant when the contract is called seasonal and he lives all the time?
Can seasonal rents change?
Based on source
- BOE · Ley 29/1994 de Arrendamientos Urbanos, articles 2-4, 9-11 and 36 .
- BOE · Ley de Catalúña 11/2025, de 29 de diquiembre, de medidas en materia de vivienda y urbanismo (article 66 bis Ley 18/2007) ♪
- Generalitat · Habitatge: contrato de arrendamiento, fianza, renta y duración ↗
- Generalitat · Habitatge: normativa de la limitación del precio del alquiler ↗
- BOE · Sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional 37/2022 sobre la Ley de Cataluña 11/2020 ↗
- BOE · Tribunal Constitucional: recurso de inconstitucionalidad 2415-2026 contra la Ley de Cataluña 11/2025 ↗
- Generalitat · Habitatge: municipios declarados zona de mercado residencial tensionado ↗
- BOE · Decreto ley 1/2025 de Cataluña, de medidas urgentes en materia de contención de rentas (DOGC 9339) ↗
Sources are viewed on 02.10.2026. Consolidated texts and departmental reference pages are informative: legal application takes into account official publications, changes and specific circumstances. Material has not been personally checked by counsel.
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The source is viewed on 02.10.2026 · NEXO · Drafting Draft · Sources do not replace individual legal advice.