Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain – The year 2025 concluded with Barcelona’s real estate market in a fervent state, marked by soaring property prices and a booming buying and selling activity. This intense market dynamic has directly fueled a significant surge in home renovations across the city.
Renovation Activity Reaches New Heights
By September 2025, the Barcelona City Council processed 22,638 ‘assabentats’ (notifications for minor works) and permits for minor renovations in homes. This figure, awaiting the final quarter’s data, indicates a potential record-breaking year, possibly exceeding 30,000 annual renovations. This trend is occurring amidst a notable shortage of specialized labor in the sector.
The accumulated number of renovation permits is the highest to date, surpassing even the post-pandemic years. Initially, the COVID-19 crisis spurred a renovation boom as residents sought to improve their living spaces. Now, the city’s fast-paced real estate market is the primary catalyst for these home improvements.
Drivers of the Renovation Boom
Professionals in the sector indicate that renovations are driven by both aesthetic and functional enhancements, as well as a growing, though still insufficient, focus on energy efficiency. The popularity of home renovation television shows, ‘flipping’ (buying, renovating, and reselling properties), and a plethora of ‘before and after’ examples on social media have also contributed to this phenomenon.
Thousands of Barcelona residents have opted for open-plan living by knocking down walls to combine kitchens and living rooms. Many have also undertaken smaller, DIY projects such as installing vinyl flooring, wallpapering, updating kitchens, and cladding walls.
Municipal Oversight and Challenges
Municipal data shows that after a slight moderation in 2023 with 28,259 authorizations and 28,896 in 2024, the first nine months of 2025 already saw 22,638 permits. These include ‘assabentats’ for electrical and water system changes, flooring, painting, tile demolition, crack repairs, and carpentry, which only require free online notification. Minor works permits, affecting internal distribution without structural changes, are also included.
The city council has intensified its control and inspection efforts to ensure that works adhere to authorized plans and that all necessary notifications are made. Since 2022, 6,876 restitution files have been initiated, with a peak of 1,903 in 2024, and 1,694 accumulated by December 2025.
Labor Shortage and Intrusism
A significant challenge facing the renovation market is the shortage of specialized professionals. Reputable companies often have waiting lists extending several months. Maribel Torrents, director of the Gremi de Reformes d’Interiors de Catalunya, highlights the “lack of qualified labor” due to a decline in traditional apprenticeships. “Before there were specialists, and now everyone knows a bit of everything,” she notes, leading to a scarcity of excellence.
Torrents emphasizes that many Barcelona homes are aging, requiring renovations that go beyond aesthetics to include electrical and lighting installations, and improvements in sustainability through window and door replacements. “People are choosing between moving or renovating their current home,” she adds.
Industry Growth and Market Dynamics
The growth in the sector is also reflected by material suppliers. Obramat, for instance, is set to open another large store in Catalonia in 2026, making it the region with the most stores (8) in Spain. Leroy Merlin has also expanded its presence in central Barcelona, offering a wide range of products and working with a large network of installers.
However, the sector faces unique challenges in Barcelona due to housing laws and Catalonia’s specific regulations. Rental price caps have deterred small property owners from renovating homes for rent, as it has become less profitable and more complex to manage. The ‘flipping’ trend has also slowed due to a doubled real estate transfer tax for those owning more than five properties.
Despite these hurdles, luxury renovations are thriving, as are projects for new homebuyers and conversions of commercial spaces into residential units. The renovation of buildings from vertical to horizontal ownership, with new apartments sold to individuals, is also a growing trend.
Addressing Intrusism and Professionalism
The Gremi de Reformas warns against significant intrusism in the sector, distinguishing between professionals who lack proper insurance, fail to comply with occupational risk prevention, or evade tax obligations, and those who are simply not skilled. The latter often perform substandard work, requiring other companies to fix their mistakes. The employers’ association advocates for increased investment in vocational training to produce qualified plumbers, carpenters, fitters, plasterers, and painters.
Torrents explains that many new construction workers have transitioned to home renovations, despite the differing demands, especially when families reside in the property during the work. This necessitates meticulous organization, cleanliness, and minimal disruption. “It’s crucial to have a project and avoid improvisation, as many trades can be involved in a renovation, requiring careful planning,” she advises. The guild offers a directory of guaranteed professionals from a base of 3,000 companies and freelancers in Barcelona, where the highest volume of work is concentrated.
The ongoing renovation boom underscores Barcelona’s dynamic housing market, where residents are continuously adapting their living spaces to meet evolving needs and market conditions.
Source: elperiodico.com
