Spain Airbnb Crackdown: Government Limits Holiday Flats

Government in Spain to restrict tourist apartments in 'saturated' areas due to anti-tourism protests, aiming to improve housing access.

Spain's Housing Minister has announced plans to intervene in order to limit tourist apartments in certain parts of the country, citing concerns that the proliferation of such accommodations is impeding access to housing for residents. While the country's 17 regions currently lack a clear definition of what constitutes a 'stressed' area, the Minister's statement indicates that the government is prepared to override local authorities if necessary.

In a recent interview with Cadena Ser Radio, the Minister specifically highlighted the situation in Madrid, where there are reportedly over 14,000 tourist flats. She expressed her desire to prevent the city center from becoming a mere tourist attraction, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Madrid's identity as a vibrant urban hub.

This announcement comes on the heels of the Prime Minister's pledge to abolish the Golden Visa scheme, which grants Spanish residency to non-EU citizens who purchase properties valued at €500,000 or more. In addition, there have been protests in Tenerife against what some perceive as an overabundance of tourism in the region.

According to the Housing Minister, there are currently 300,000 tourist apartments in Spain, a number that exceeds the country's construction capacity. While certain regions like Andalucia, Catalunya, and the Canary Islands have taken steps to address the issue, the Minister emphasized the need for national intervention. She stressed the importance of regulating tourist rentals to ensure sustainable tourism development.

The Minister also sought to dispel any notion that the government's actions were politically motivated, noting that discussions on housing policy were ongoing. With only 2.4% of housing in Spain designated as public, well below the European average of 9%, there is a pressing need to address the country's housing shortage. The Minister estimated a shortfall of 1.5 million public housing units, the resolution of which could help stabilize rental and sale prices.

The Spain Housing Minister's intervention to limit tourist apartments reflects the government's commitment to addressing the housing crisis and ensuring access to affordable housing for all residents.