What is the índex de referència (rent reference index)?
The índex de referència de preus de lloguer is Catalonia's official rent reference index, calculated per property from its size, condition and census section; in a declared zona tensionada it sets the legal ceiling for new leases by large holders (grans tenidors) and for homes not let in the last five years — for other new leases the binding cap is the previous contract's updated rent.
It isn't one figure for a whole town — it's property-specific, so two flats on the same street can have different caps.
You can look up the ceiling for a specific address on the Generalitat's official tool before signing or challenging a rent.
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Sources: Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya — índex de referència de preus de lloguer.
General information for people renting property in Spain — not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm the specifics for your tenancy with a qualified professional.
Last reviewed June 2026.