Catalonia's government is creating a new tax on vacant homes owned by banks in an effort to stimulate rentals. The banks will only need to pay between 850 and 1,650 euros per year to the regional government if it the 15,000 empty homes that it has in 70 Catalonian municipalities on the market.
Against the wishes of local governments, in reality the banks will be offering the homes so that a rental market can be built. This is Catalonia's answer for high eviction rates. Coercing the banks through taxation is a ridiculous measure and will hardly solve Catalonia's fundamental budget problems.