Spain tightens control over the short-term rental housing market. Authorities have reminded owners of tourist apartments: by March 2, 2026, you must submit detailed information about last year’s property rentals. This requirement applies to everyone involved in short-term rentals and covers properties registered in the Land or Movable Property Registry.
This year, the reporting deadline has been extended, but owners should not let their guard down. Failing to comply puts you at risk of losing your unique registration number (NRUA), without which listing properties on popular online platforms is impossible. Registry officials report that since the new rules came into force in January 2026, more than 400,000 such numbers have already been issued.
Strict requirements
The essence of the new regulations is to create a unified database of tourist apartments. Authorities aim to centralize information to track property movement and oversee the rental market. Now, every owner or manager is required to submit an annual report for the previous year each February. In 2026, the final deadline is March 2.
Violation of these rules could result not only in losing the right to list your property online, but also in hefty fines. Registry officials stress: even if an apartment is rented out only occasionally, it must still be recorded in the registry. Responsibility lies with the owner or the person officially managing the property.
Enforcement and consequences
Mandatory reporting is more than just a formality. Spanish authorities are determined to bring order to the short-term rental sector, which in recent years has become a source of numerous conflicts. The surge in tourist apartments has stirred discontent among locals, driven up housing prices, and made long-term rentals less accessible.
Now the state has a tool to monitor the true scale of the market and identify violations. If an owner fails to submit information on time, their property is automatically removed from the registry, and the registration number is revoked. This means the apartment will disappear from Booking, Airbnb, and other platforms—regaining status will be extremely difficult.
Market response
Many owners of tourist apartments are already feeling the squeeze of the new rules. Some worry that tighter controls will reduce market supply and drive up prices for tourists. Others believe these measures are necessary to combat illegal rentals and protect the interests of local residents.
Experts note that a centralized database will help identify properties being rented without authorization or in violation of health and safety standards. Over time, this may lead to stricter quality requirements and additional inspections from local municipalities.
What property owners need to know
Owners of tourist apartments are advised not to wait until the last day to submit their information. The procedure is straightforward but requires attention to detail: you must provide accurate information about your income, number of guests, and rental periods. Mistakes or incomplete data can result in a denial of registration.
Special attention should be paid by those who manage multiple properties or operate through intermediaries. In these cases, the responsibility for submitting information on time lies with the person officially registered as the manager. Violations are detected automatically, and restoring your right to rent out property can be difficult.
If you weren’t aware, the Colegio de Registradores is a professional association that unites specialists in property and movable asset registration in Spain. It maintains public registries, oversees the legality of transactions, and advises citizens on property and rental rights. The Colegio actively participates in drafting new regulations and keeps the public informed about significant legislative changes.
