Lorraine Williamson
The Valencia government is working on a decree to regulate the proliferation of tourist accommodations and over-tourism. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs is also calling for cooperation to map unregistered accommodations.
The issue of ‘over-tourism’ and its impact on the livability of tourist areas is currently a hot topic in Spain. Many seem eager to capitalise on Spain’s popularity among tourists. Apartments, rooms, caravans, boats, tents—those who are a bit creative can easily make some extra money from tourists. However, the enormous number of tourist apartments being rented out is particularly troubling for residents and authorities.
No new licenses for now
The autonomous region of Valencia wants to end the large number of unregulated tourist apartments. Thousands of homes have been removed from the market, and pressure on rental prices for residents has significantly increased. Authorities, organisations, and homeowners’ associations are working to detect apartments without permits and illegal construction activities. Additionally, municipalities have announced that no new permits will be issued for the time being. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs is also seeking cooperation to address malpractices.
The number of unlicensed rentals is enormous
The Generalitat Valenciana is currently working on a decree to improve control over tourist accommodations. Over the past few decades, the number of properties with tourist licenses has risen to 120,000. These are mainly concentrated in cities like Valencia and in coastal municipalities of Alicante, a province that houses 70% of the supply. Although the number of legal accommodations is high, it is estimated that the number of apartments rented out without a license is almost double that figure. Despite this, the region has only 13 inspectors to monitor and enforce the regulations.
Ban on key boxes
One of the measures Valencia wants to implement to regulate over-tourism is to limit licenses to the property owner. This means that when a property is sold, a new license must be applied for by the new owner. The government also plans to ban key boxes. These boxes, which adorn doorways in tourist areas, make it easy for landlords to receive tenants without any personal contact.
Tourist apartments must be registered by December 31
Spanish television has reported that all tourist properties in the Valencia region must be registered by December 31. If a property is not registered by that date, fines may be imposed, which in severe cases could amount to up to €600,000. The Valencia government continues to maintain its stance of not imposing a tourist tax. The region also does not want to implement rent controls as proposed in Spain’s national housing law.
Neighbourhoods want to restore livability
Neighbourhood committees are seeking policies to restore livability in the areas. Residents are tired of the impacts of tourism, visitor saturation, and the closure of traditional shops and businesses, which are being replaced by franchise models and vacation rentals. Citizen initiatives are also emerging to provide information and advise homeowners’ associations on how to amend statutes to prevent tourist activities or report malpractices in the real estate sector. The Compromís coalition has set up a channel for anonymous reporting of unregulated apartments in Valencia’s cities.
Minister urges cooperation to regulate over-tourism
The national Minister of Social Affairs is urging regional leaders to work together to combat the unwanted effects of over-tourism. He advocates for detecting illegally rented apartments and implementing the housing law to regulate rental prices.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has launched an investigation into platforms promoting tourist apartments. It is also asking municipalities, responsible for issuing permits, to cooperate in identifying fraudulent properties. The region is doing everything possible to remove these apartments from the market and is exploring the possibility of sanctions for platforms that illegally promote tourist accommodations.