The plot of illegal tourist apartments specialized in high standing and with a special love for Passeig de Gràcia lost in recent weeks two of the most precious jewels in its crown, two of the properties that they clandestinely sublet for days: one with excellent views of the Sagrada Família that they had on Avenida Diagonal at the height of Passeig de Sant Joan and another on Ronda Sant Pere, very close to Passeig de Gràcia.
These two evictions were possible thanks mainly to the efforts of the owners. Municipal inspectors have had this organization in their sights for three and a half years now. Only in relation to these two properties, the City Council has already imposed two disciplinary proceedings totaling 120,000 euros and a coercive fine of another 3,000.
At this time, the inspectors have four other apartments linked to this plot highlighted in red. In total, during these three or so years, the City Council opened nine files involving an amount of 420,000 euros, as well as five coercive fines totaling another 21,000. But the benefits of this business are such that these people ignore the sanctions. According to their own website, each apartment costs around 400 euros per night. This network, its website also indicates, also does business in San Sebastián, Marbella, Madrid, Ibiza... and more recently in Paris.
Inspectors have difficulty demonstrating the tourist uses of these apartments because in their inspections someone always appears who says they live there. And this network always asks its guests not to open the door to anyone and uses AI so that the perspectives of the windows that appear in their ads do not reveal their location. Furthermore, the only recognized property of its alleged ringleader is a four-square-meter storage room in Soto del Real seized by Social Security. And his alleged main partner has nothing.
And to evict them, the owners have to undertake cumbersome civil proceedings. Judges do not usually treat these activities criminally. "It took more than two years for those in the Diagonal apartment to obtain the release order," says lawyer Marta Martín. "They resort to even the most insignificant diligence." And they also take advantage of the loopholes in the system. "They appealed without having the right because they owe about 50,000 euros in rent, but the Provincial Court took almost a year to say that there was no appeal."
"We managed to kick them out of the main building a few months ago," say the administrators of a property on Ronda Sant Pere. "Now we are waiting for the judge to dictate a launch date for the penthouse. Meanwhile...". This network started its activities in Barcelona in March 2023, renting two apartments in this building for 1,800 euros per month each. His brain assured the owners that he needed them to accommodate athletes.
Soon the owners realized that they had been transformed into tourist apartments. They were told that this was illegal and they responded that they could be part of the business. The managers of this property also detail that the owners refused and by October 2024 the plotters stopped paying the rent and began to make life impossible for the concierge. "Now we wait for the judge to dictate the release date of the penthouse. These people have the nerve to even claim vulnerability."
"They are experts in delaying everything," resumes lawyer Martín. "We also obtained a ruling to recover another apartment that was exploited on Passeig de Gràcia. They will file an appeal that will not have a future either because they owe many monthly payments, but while the Court responds to them, they will gain another half year to continue subletting it. And another owner on Passeig de Gràcia has just filed a criminal complaint against them." Apparently, once the signed seasonal contract concluded, they told him that they would still continue exploiting his home, that it was best to understand each other, that they could compensate him...
"We are going to file a lawsuit against them to ask for compensation," says Martín. "At least then they will have no choice but to spend the money on lawyers."
