Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty

The law the city is using, which gives it scope to fine negligent landlords after two years of leaving a property vacant, has in fact been in place since 2007 (before Colau’s election) but wasn’t implemented until during her tenure. If the owners agree to allow their empty properties to be rented at affordable rents, the mayor has suggested that the city would be prepared to reduce, or possibly even remove the fines. It still remains to be seen how the funds that own the buildings will respond to the fines, and whether they succeed in encouraging other landlords to turn their empty properties to more socially constructive use.

Source: www.citylab.com