Spain is entering a new phase in its fight against illegal tourist rentals. This week, the government plans to officially notify major digital platforms of the need to remove more than 53,000 listings that do not meet established requirements. These are apartments being rented short-term without the necessary permits and registration.
The issue of tourist accommodation rentals has long been one of the most pressing topics in Spanish politics. This is especially evident in Andalusia and specifically in the province of Málaga, where regional elections are expected in the coming months. Amid the election campaign, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presented an initiative in Málaga that could significantly change the rental market. He stated that the government intends to focus on the interests of young people and families who are finding it increasingly difficult to secure affordable long-term housing.
Spain became the first country in Europe to create a unified registry for temporary accommodations. This system, launched earlier this year, allows authorities to track all properties rented to tourists and identify violations. Since the registry’s launch, over 330,000 applications for registration have been submitted, nearly 80% of which were for tourist rentals. However, about 20% of the applications were rejected—these are the properties now at risk of being removed from the platforms.
Authorities emphasize that such measures are necessary to combat fraud and stabilize the rental market. In recent years, major cities and coastal areas have seen a sharp rise in housing prices, driven by the mass conversion of apartments to the short-term rental sector for tourists. This has caused discontent among local residents, who face a shortage of affordable long-term housing options.
It is expected that removing tens of thousands of listings from popular platforms will help return some apartments to the long-term rental market. Authorities hope this will ease the situation for young people and families, as well as reduce social tensions in regions where tourism is particularly developed. In the coming weeks, it will become clear how platforms and property owners themselves will respond to the new requirements.
