Finance

Seasonal surge: the growing divide in Spain’s rental market

Published

9 hours ago

May 15, 2026

admin

Seasonal rentals flood Spain’s real estate market
Credit: Shutterstock, chris276644

When spring turns to summer, three things are guaranteed in Spain: warm weather, tourists arriving in droves and short-term seasonal rentals flooding the real estate market. For visitors, short term rentals are a more appealing alternative to hotels, offering more independence and oftentimes a cheaper rate. For locals, it’s a frustrating phenomenon that vastly impacts their ability to find permanent accommodation.

In the first quarter of 2026, short term tourist rentals made up 27 per cent of the real estate market, representing a 22 per cent year on year increase. Meanwhile, permanent rentals decreased by 3 per cent in the same period, according to Idealista. The yearly surge in seasonal rentals adds further pressure to cities already tight on space.

Government crackdown on illegal tourist rentals

The government has made a concerted effort in recent years to reduce the number of short-term accommodation available. In 2025, stricter rental restrictions came into force which required seasonal lets to be registered and obtain a rental code. Consequently, Airbnb was fined €64 million for listing tourist accommodation that didn’t comply with these new requirements, and more than 80,000 illegal listings were removed.

However, the measures have yet to significantly ease pressure on the long-term rental market. Property analysts warn that many landlords are simply shifting towards temporary rental contracts that fall outside traditional tourist accommodation rules.

Housing pressure in Spain’s most popular cities

Despite the preventative legislation, Barcelona remains the city with the largest supply of seasonal rentals. Approximately 55 per cent of Barcelona’s real estate market is classified as such. In Andalucia, Malaga and Seville have the highest level of short-term rentals, making up 28 per cent of the market.

The increase of short-term rentals comes at the detriment to permanent rentals, a hit to locals who live in these holiday hotspots. For many residents, particularly younger people and low-income workers, finding stable and affordable accommodation is becoming increasingly difficult as more properties are redirected towards the lucrative seasonal market.

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Countries Set To Lose Out At World Cup

Published

1 week ago

May 8, 2026

Elli Freeman

World Cup 2026, a pricy tournament for teams and fans Credit: Shutterstock, Freer

This summer 48 countries are set to compete in the World Cup in what is expected to be the most successful edition yet, but before the tournament gets underway, FIFA have upped each country’s pay.

Competing countries get a pay rise

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, set to take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, FIFA have increased payments to the competing international teams by 15 per cent. This takes the total pay-out to more than €767 million, up by €95.5 million, with all participating countries guaranteed a minimum of €10.6 million. FIFA officials have cited the commercial success of the flagship tournament as a reason for the pay bump.

The expanded tournament is expected to become the most commercially successful World Cup in history thanks to increased sponsorship, broadcasting and ticket revenue. FIFA has also increased preparation payments and additional subsidies for participating nations in an attempt to offset rising operational costs.

Nations are already facing losses

Despite the increase to both the prize money and participation funds, many countries still expect to compete at a financial loss, with the FIFA pay-outs not enough to cover the costs of competing.

The larger, more successful teams like England, Spain, and Germany will be impacted the most. The further they get in the tournament; the more expensive competing becomes. While there are additional payments for progressing to the final stages, these bonuses still aren’t enough to cover the accommodation and travel costs of teams and their entourage of staff.

Logistical costs are also expected to soar because of the tournament’s vast geography, with teams potentially travelling thousands of miles between fixtures across North America. Concerns have already been raised by several football associations over hotel prices, internal flights and security arrangements during the month-long competition.

World Cup 2026 ticket prices spark fan backlash

The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be a pricy event, for teams and for fans as ticket prices reach record highs, even for the opening matches.

Some host cities have been criticised for their predatory price hikes after it was revealed those travelling to New York’s Met Life Stadium will have to pay €130 for a train fare that typically costs €10.99.

Supporters groups across Europe and the United States have criticised FIFA’s dynamic pricing system, arguing that ordinary fans are being priced out of attending matches. Reports have suggested that some resale tickets for the final have been listed for extraordinary sums, while even standard group-stage tickets are significantly higher than previous tournaments.

Gianni Infantino Defends High World Cup Ticket Prices

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the high prices, insisting they reflect demand within the American sports market. Speaking earlier this week, Infantino argued that FIFA had to apply “market rates” because of the scale of demand and the legal resale system in the United States.

Infantino also claimed that a quarter of all group-stage tickets would be available for under $300, while insisting that prices for major sporting events in the United States are often similarly high. His comments have nevertheless drawn criticism from supporters’ groups, who argue that the tournament risks becoming inaccessible for ordinary football fans.

Final thoughts

While FIFA’s increased financial distribution for the 2026 World Cup reflects the tournament’s growing commercial success, concerns remain over the rising cost of competing and attending. From expensive travel and accommodation for national teams to record-breaking ticket prices for supporters, many fear the expanded competition is becoming increasingly inaccessible.

As FIFA continues to defend its pricing strategy, the debate over affordability is likely to remain one of the defining issues surrounding the 2026 World Cup.

Banking

S

Published

1 week ago

May 5, 2026

Alessio Ghirlanda

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