Spain’s Plan to Convert Tourist Lets into Long-Term Rentals

Spain is taking significant steps to address its housing crisis, especially in popular tourist destinations. Recently, the Spanish Ministry of Housing has announced plans to remove over 50,000 ads for illegal tourist accommodations from platforms like Airbnb. This initiative aims to convert these tourist lets into long-term rentals for local residents, particularly young people and families.

The Background

Starting from July 1, 2025, all landlords wishing to rent out their properties as seasonal or tourist rentals in Spain must register with the government’s Single Rental Registry. Any property not registered will not receive an identification number, making it illegal to advertise on platforms like Airbnb. The Spanish government has already asked companies to take down any listings lacking this necessary registration. This is a crucial move aimed at regulating the growing trend of short-term rentals, which has contributed to rising housing costs for locals.

During an event in Málaga, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez shared his commitment to turning these illegal tourist rentals into permanent homes for citizens. This is part of a broader initiative by the Socialist-led government to address the acute housing shortage affecting many Spanish cities. However, details on how this transformation will be implemented remain unclear.

The Scale of the Issue

According to the launch data from Spain’s Single Registry of Temporary Accommodation, around 336,497 applications have been submitted since its start in early 2025. Out of these, a staggering 264,998—approximately 78.75%—were for tourist rentals. Unfortunately, 53,786 or about 20.3% of these applications have been rejected, meaning these properties can no longer operate as short-term rentals.

Many of the rejections are due to the properties operating illegally. Prime Minister Sánchez highlighted that a significant number of “irregularities” are occurring in this sector. This may include properties lacking separate entrances or those situated in historic areas where tourist licenses are not issued anymore.

Housing Crisis in Focus

Madrid is particularly impacted, with authorities spotting a “major anomaly” in the registration process. A striking 83% of applications were for temporary accommodations rather than tourist rentals. Furthermore, about one-third of the 3,513 tourist rental applications in Madrid have been cancelled due to non-compliance with the law.

Cities like Seville and Marbella follow suit, with high numbers of revoked applications. Andalusia leads the way, having revoked a staggering 16,740 applications, while the Canary Islands and Catalonia have also faced significant issues in this area.

In May of this year, Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs had already ordered Airbnb to remove 66,000 holiday rental ads due to the absence of tourist licenses. It was revealed that by the July deadline for registration, only 25.6% of the tourist and temporary accommodation market had proper authorization to operate. This means that a massive 74.4% of these properties were deemed illegal.

The Broader Impact

Spain is currently navigating a serious housing crisis that is affecting its residents. Locals often point fingers at tourist accommodations for the soaring property prices and resulting lack of available housing. In an effort to remedy this situation, the Spanish government, along with regional authorities, has increasingly focused on enforcing regulations to reduce the number of illegal tourist rentals.

European regulations now also mandate that all non-long-term accommodations must display an identification number, further pushing the need for compliance in this sector. With locals battling escalating rental prices, these measures are essential for restoring balance to the housing market.

Looking Ahead

As Spain moves forward with this initiative, the outcome remains to be seen. While the government’s efforts to convert tourist lets into long-term rentals may provide some relief, it will require careful implementation to ensure that landlords don’t simply choose to leave their properties empty rather than comply with regulations.

By tightening controls and promoting a more equitable housing market, Spain is taking important strides towards solving a pressing issue that affects thousands of its residents. This transition could make a significant impact in large urban areas where the lack of affordable housing has become a daily struggle for many.

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Original Text – https://www.thelocal.es/20250915/spain-vows-to-turn-50000-tourist-lets-into-long-term-rentals