Amid escalating anti-tourist sentiment and planned protests, Spain has green-lighted a new law that will impact the mainland, as well as popular areas like the Canary Islands
In a huge blow to sun-worshipping Brits, Spain has unveiled its latest anti-tourist measure. In a desperate effort to curb over-tourism in popular areas, the country passed new legislation impacting holiday rentals.
From April 3, property owners living in residential complexes in Spain (including the autonomous archipelago of the Canary Islands) will now need the thumbs up from their neighbours if they want to rent out their homes to holidaymakers. Following an update to the Horizontal Property Act, locals wanting to cash in on the influx of Brits will now need to gain a 60 per cent majority vote from neighbouring property owners.
According to Canarian Weekly, the shakeup states homeowners renting out their property without the ‘necessary support’ will be asked to cease operations. If they ignore the warning, they will be hit with legal action over ‘unauthorised use’.
However, the new rules – which fall under the Organic Law 1/2025 legislation – only apply to new tourist accommodations in residential buildings and complexes. This means if an apartment is already being rented out to holidaymakers, they will not need to take part in the local referendum.
“We need more housing and less Airbnb’s,” insisted Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez – who supported the new measures. Naturally, the law was also hailed by several hotel industry representatives, who will be financially stung by the increase in short-term rentals.
However, platforms reliant on short-term rentals have slammed the strict laws and argued a ‘fair and balanced regulation’ would be better suited. Local news suggests the government is also mulling over plans to implement a taxation framework that will ‘define tourist rentals as an economic activity’.
This will further demotivate locals from renting out their homes, as it will be considerably less profitable. However, such a policy has yet to be announced by parliament.
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The controversial law follows escalating calls from frustrated residents, who claim they’re being priced out of the property market due to the surge in holiday lets. On Saturday (April 3), several Tenants Union will resume protests to call for a 50 per cent reduction in rental prices in overcrowded areas.
As previously reported, protestors are expected to gather in the ‘thousands’ to get their opinions heard. It is believed activists are also demanding better access to long-term rental contracts, allowing them to ‘build’ a life without the threat of being kicked out. Such a policy would deter landlords from evicting locals to cash in on tourists willing to fork out higher prices for short-term stays.
While these protests aren’t directly aimed at tourists, holidaymakers are being blamed for worsening the housing crisis. Last month, one man living in Palma, Majorca, alleged he was approached by two property poaches who wanted the contact details of his landlord so they could purchase his apartment for ‘foreign investors’.
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