As the number of Spanish regions introducing regulations to strangle the private tourist lettings business at the behest of powerful hotel lobbies grows, here is a summary of the latest developments by region, courtesy of the Spanish property portal Idealista.com.
ANDALUSIA
New Andalusian holiday rental regulations are expected any day now, but the authorities are already reportedly going after owners of tourist lets for contravening draft laws, report Idealista. The draft law envisages allowing owners to rent out rooms to tourists, but if the same person manages three or more holiday lets within a radius of 1km, they will be consider “tourist apartments” rather than “tourist-use apartments” and subject to stricter regulations.
ARAGON
A new law is in the works, under which renting individual rooms will not be allowed.
ASTURIAS
Tourist rentals must be offered during July, August and September as a minimum. That means owners can’t use their properties in the summer months and offer them for tourist letting during the rest of the year. Furthermore, you can’t rent out apartments to tourists, Idealista seem to say.
BALEARICS
There is a bill in the works that might make letting to tourists easier, but only in the case of semis and townhouses. There are no moves to make it easier to rent apartments, or grant new licences. Tourist rental licences in the Balearics explained
CANARIES
Along with the Balearics, the Canaries have some of the most restrictive rules on holidary rentals. The regional government is working on a draft of new legislation.
CANTABRIA
To let your home as ‘non-hotel accommodation’ in Cantabria you need to register with the tax office and be registered with social security. This limits people under specific tax regimes such as pensioners who cannot register their properties as holiday lets.
CASTILE LA MANCHA
No imminent plans to introduce specific legislation for holiday lettings.
CASTILE AND LEÓN
No imminent plans to introduce specific legislation for holiday lettings.
CATALONIA
No plans to introduce new legislation on top of existing rules forcing owners to register for holiday rentals, collect tourist taxes, and provide other services. Licences are required in Barcelona, where there is now a two-year moratorium on new permits. Holiday-lettings in Catalonia.
VALENCIAN REGION
Idealista say that registration is not required for those letting just one property, which is misleading as a regional modification has just been passed requiring all tourist rentals to be registered.
BASQUE COUNTRY
A new tourist law is in the works. Current legislation does not allow owners to let their homes to tourists if they are only offering one property.
EXTREMADURA
No imminent plans to introduce specific legislation for holiday lettings.
GALICIA
Holiday rentals restricted to detached homes, and room rental are prohibited.
LA RIOJA
No imminent plans to introduce specific legislation for holiday lettings.
MADRID
Holiday rental stays of less than five days are prohibited, as are room rentals.
MURCIA
No imminent plans to introduce specific legislation for holiday lettings.
NAVARRE
No imminent plans to introduce specific legislation for holiday lettings.
A better source of informations on this topic, it turns out, is the Holiday rental licences in Spain – region-by-region guide by Spain-holiday.com.
ken hawkins says:
Why cant they introduce a bill so people like me can get our money back which we have been conned out of .I have given as a deposit 67,000 euros over 5 years ago .Lets start from scratch we all had dreams of holidaying and probably living in Spain ,but these con men have ruined everything for me especially .I am struggling as a consequence I was supposed to be retiring this year .but cant .Polaris/Parador have my money and nobody gives a dam,they wont even acknowledge they have my money they just say when I can get them to respond GET A LAWYER
Guest says:
Whilst I do have sympathy for people who have lost out.
Tthe only good thing about, it will kill the Spanish property market ! People may well spend their money in the uK, which is no bad thing.