A new round of disputes has flared up in Andalusia between regional and central authorities over the status of thousands of tourist rental apartments. Madrid announced the identification of more than 16,000 properties that, according to the government, do not meet the requirements for listing on online platforms. However, in Seville and Málaga, where most of these apartments are located, local officials and industry representatives consider these accusations unfounded.
The regional authorities emphasize that oversight of tourist accommodation is their jurisdiction, not Madrid’s. According to them, the ministry does not conduct on-site inspections but merely uses data from a registry, the accuracy of which is questionable. Andalusia claims that over the past few months they have already de-registered more than 10,000 properties, working closely with municipalities. They also note that most identified violations involve only apartments advertised on popular websites, not the entire market.
The unified registry system, introduced earlier this year, has also come under criticism. Regional officials believe it duplicates their own procedures and creates confusion. Meanwhile, ministry representatives insist the registry is not a license, but rather a tool to check compliance with basic housing requirements. According to their data, nearly 20% of registration applications have been rejected due to errors or non-compliance with the rules.
Real estate market experts note that the difference in figures between Madrid and Andalusia is linked to different approaches to inspections. In Andalusia, oversight is carried out after a declaration is submitted, while in the new registry, checks occur from the very start. As a result, some apartments lose the opportunity to be listed on platforms, even though they are not formally stripped of the right to rent to tourists.
The Association of Tourist Apartment Owners in Andalusia has strongly opposed Madrid’s policy. According to them, the mass removal of listings does not resolve the issue of housing availability for locals, but only harms the region’s economy. Organizations emphasize that tourist rentals create jobs and support small businesses, especially in cities like Malaga, Sevilla, Cádiz, and Granada.
Municipalities that have come under scrutiny due to the large number of ‘controversial’ apartments also disagree with the central government’s position. In Sevilla and Malaga, officials believe that demonizing the tourism sector will not help solve the housing crisis. Local authorities remind that they have already taken steps to curb the growth of tourist apartments, and some registration applications have been rejected due to market saturation.
Ultimately, the dispute between Madrid and Andalusia goes far beyond statistics. At stake is not just control over the rental market, but also the future of tourism, which remains one of the key drivers of southern Spain’s economy.
