Spanish authorities are clamping down on tourist flats (short-term rentals) across several regions, particularly in Andalucia, as local governments respond to growing concerns from residents about housing shortages and the erosion of community life. This new wave of regulations is already making waves in key cities like Malaga, Sevilla, Cadiz, Alicante, and Madrid.
The Junta de Andalucia is at the forefront of this crackdown, having withdrawn approximately 2,600 tourist flat licences, with the majority concentrated in Malaga, Sevilla, and Cadiz, reports the Olive Press. This follows a series of inspections aimed at identifying illegal holiday lets. The number of licences revoked has crept up from 2,445 announced back in July, indicating the crackdown is gathering momentum.
When a property loses its licence, it is barred from advertising on popular platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com, significantly impacting property owners who rely on tourist rentals as a source of income.
Malaga has gone a step further with stringent new rules. Any new tourist flats must now have a separate entrance from full-time residential properties. In addition, the city has imposed a three-year moratorium on new licences across all 42 districts, effectively halting the expansion of tourist rentals until at least 2026.
The Alicante City Council has introduced a moratorium of up to two years on granting new tourist flat licences. This pause is intended to allow a thorough review of existing regulations and a clean-up of non-compliant properties. The goal is to restore order to a market that many locals feel has spiralled out of control.
Madrid is tackling the issue with its ambitious ‘Plan Reside’. This plan seeks to safeguard residential spaces in the city centre by banning short-term tourist apartments (VUTs) within residential buildings. Ground-floor units and commercial premises can still be converted into tourist rentals, but traditional residential blocks are off-limits unless the entire building is dedicated to tourism.
Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida has made it clear that the aim is to curb depopulation in central neighbourhoods, improve housing availability, and ease tensions between residents and tourists. While buildings designated as residential are now protected, non-residential buildings like offices and hotels remain fair game for conversion into tourist accommodation.
These measures have been driven by mounting pressure from residents who argue that short-term rentals drive up housing costs and hollow out communities. Locals often find themselves priced out of their own neighbourhoods, while traditional city centres morph into transient zones catering primarily to tourists.
While these regulations aim to rebalance residential life and tourism, their success will largely depend on the effectiveness of enforcement. Authorities will need to keep a close eye on compliance to ensure the rules have teeth.
There are also broader economic implications. Individuals who rely on income from tourist rentals may see their livelihoods disrupted. Additionally, reduced tourist accommodation could shift demand towards traditional hotels or push tourists to the outskirts of cities, potentially altering visitor patterns.
Expect more scrutiny on short-term rentals in other Spanish cities as local governments look to regain control of their housing markets. Property investors, landlords, and tourists alike will need to stay alert as this regulatory landscape continues to evolve.
One thing is clear: the golden age of unregulated tourist flats in Spain is coming to an end. Whether this spells relief for residents or a headache for property owners remains to be seen.
