Isabel Rodríguez, Spain‘s Minister for Housing and the Urban Agenda, announced this week a potential revision to the Horizontal Property Law aimed at restricting tourist flats within homeowners’ associations.
The government’s proposal aligns with recent Supreme Court decisions which identified the rental of homes for tourist purposes as an economic activity, resulting in rulings that halted such rentals in neighbourhoods in Oviedo and San Sebastián.
During her appearance on the television program ‘Mirada Crítica’ on Telecinco, Rodríguez emphasized that the proposed legal amendments would empower residents’ associations to have a say in these matters, acknowledging the widespread nature of this issue not just in Spain, but globally, including in major European capitals.
She pointed out that the unchecked growth of tourist flats often conflicts with the rights to accessible and affordable housing, inflating rental prices and reducing the availability of long-term residential rentals.
Rodríguez also noted the proactive steps taken by regional authorities, applauding the Barcelona City Council’s decision in November 2018 to eliminate all tourist flats in the city.
She stressed that such policies are designed to protect the interests of local residents who wish to live in their communities without the area turning into a “theme park,” prioritizing residential stability over tourism-driven economic gains.
