The first year of Valencia’s new tourist accommodation law has seen thousands of properties struck from the official register, as the regional government tightens control over one of its most dynamic – and controversial – tourism sectors.
The purge runs alongside a steady flow of new registrations. Since the law came into force, 8,579 tourist rentals have been added to the register – nearly double the volume seen in the previous period. In the first seven months of 2025 alone, 4,688 new entries were recorded, most of them in Alicante province. The region now counts 94,259 officially registered VUT.
Stricter inspections and local enforcement
The decree-law 9/2024 also ushered in more active oversight. The 2024 tourist inspection plan increased checks on VUT by 33%, with more than 450 actions targeting unlicensed operators. In 2025, random inspections were introduced to verify compliance with key requirements such as the responsible declaration, individualised cadastral reference, and urban planning compatibility.
Enforcement powers have also been delegated to municipalities through agreements with the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FVMP). Cities like Valencia and Benidorm have already joined the scheme, with Valencia alone collecting over €30,000 in fines in the first quarter of implementation.
A shift in the sector’s operating environment
Regional tourism chief Marián Cano hails the first year as a “deep transformation” of the sector, claiming it has advanced legality, curbed unfair competition, and improved coexistence in tourist-heavy areas. Critics, however, may question whether the clampdown will reduce supply in a sector still growing despite tighter rules.
Either way, with a cleaner register, more empowered town halls, and surprise inspections now part of the landscape, owners and managers of tourist rentals in the Valencian Community face a more regulated – and closely watched – environment than ever before.
