The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Apartments (Cehat) has welcomed the first pan-European plan for affordable housing, recently introduced by the European Commission. Industry representatives believe the document could be a starting point for drafting new national and European regulations, as it explicitly identifies housing affordability as one of the European Union’s key issues. The plan pays particular attention to short-term rentals, which Cehat says is a long-overdue issue that demands a comprehensive approach.
The organization notes that including a separate section dedicated to tourist apartments shows a recognition of the need to bring order to this segment. In recent years, the mass conversion of residential apartments into short-term rental properties has been one of the drivers behind rising prices and a shortage of housing for locals. Now, Cehat believes that authorities will have a tool for more precise market regulation, especially in regions where housing pressure is most severe.
A double-edged problem
Cehat president Jorge Marichal is openly concerned: the shortage of affordable housing is not just a social issue, but also an economic headache for the tourism sector. On one hand, locals are struggling to find housing at reasonable prices. On the other, hotel and restaurant workers are forced to look for accommodation far from their workplaces, making it harder to recruit staff and increasing business costs.
Marichal stresses that without clear regulations, the housing market becomes a battleground for unfair competition. According to him, regulating short-term rentals is not just a bureaucratic step, but a necessary move to level the playing field between traditional hotels and owners of tourist apartments. Only this way, he believes, can fair competition be ensured and the interests of both businesses and consumers protected.
European experience
Cehat points out that the current plan is the result of years of work by the European association Hotrec, which since 2012 has been pushing to introduce unified standards for the short-term rental market. During this time, the situation in major cities and tourist centers has only worsened: the number of apartments rented out for a few days has multiplied, and local authorities have struggled to cope with the surge in tourists and investors.
Experts believe that the introduction of pan-European regulations will bring order and help reduce conflicts between residents and owners of tourist accommodations. In addition, a unified registration and monitoring system will help tackle illegal rentals—a particularly pressing issue in Spain, where this market is valued at billions of euros.
New Rules of the Game
In the coming months, the European Commission plans to put forward specific legislative proposals outlining exactly how the short-term rental market will be regulated. Cehat is confident that clear and transparent rules will allow municipalities to independently decide where and to what extent to permit tourist accommodations. This is especially important for cities where tourist flows exceed infrastructure capacity.
At the same time, representatives of the hotel industry emphasize that this is not about banning or limiting tourism itself. The main goal is to create conditions where the interests of residents, businesses, and tourists are balanced. According to Cehat, this is the only way to ensure the sustainable development of the sector and preserve Spain’s appeal for travelers from around the world.
The Future of Tourism
Experts note that the new rules could serve as a model for other EU countries, where the issue of affordable housing is just as pressing. In Spain, where tourism remains a key sector of the economy, any legislative changes spark heated debates. However, most market participants agree that without regulation of short-term rentals, the situation will only get worse.
Cehat emphasizes its readiness for dialogue with authorities and other stakeholders. The organization is committed to ensuring that future laws take into account the interests of all market players and promote fair competition. Otherwise, experts warn, Spain risks facing an even greater housing shortage and increased social tension.
In case you weren’t aware, Cehat is Spain’s largest association representing hotels, apartments, and other accommodation providers across the country. The organization actively participates in developing industry standards, negotiates with authorities, and defends the interests of its members at both national and European levels. In recent years, Cehat has become one of the leading voices in discussions on the future of tourism and the housing market in Spain. Its experts regularly put forward initiatives aimed at increasing transparency and sustainability in the sector. Thanks to Cehat’s efforts, issues surrounding short-term rental regulation have become a top priority not only in Spain, but throughout the European Union.
