Spain Mandates Registration for Short-Term Rentals

Spain enforces registration for all short-term lets. Learn the new requirements for landlords to ensure compliance and avoid fines.

The Spanish government has recently unveiled a significant initiative aimed at regulating the burgeoning sector of temporary and tourist accommodations. In a move that could be described as both timely and necessary, landlords will now be required to register all forms of temporary lodging—including tourist apartments, rooms, and even floating vessels—on a newly established portal. This portal, aptly named the Digital Single Window for Leases, is set to become the linchpin for compliance in the realm of short-term rentals.

On Tuesday, October 15th, the government announced its intention to present a new royal decree for public hearing, which will delineate the framework for this regulation. The crux of the matter is that any property aspiring to be marketed on digital platforms such as Idealista must first secure a place in this registry. This registry will serve as a gatekeeper, ensuring that each property adheres to the requisite legal standards necessary for operation as a vacation or seasonal rental. Upon successful registration, properties will be assigned a unique identification number, a veritable golden ticket for advertising on online platforms.

This regulatory measure is particularly pertinent given the rampant proliferation of illegal tourist rentals across various Spanish cities. According to Borja Carabante, Madrid's Delegate of Urban Planning, Environment, and Mobility, a staggering statistic reveals that only one in every 25 tourist apartments listed in the capital is legally compliant and possesses the necessary license. The new platform aims to rectify this alarming discrepancy, facilitating the prosecution of fraudulent listings and ensuring that the integrity of the rental market is upheld.

Landlords will be required to present themselves for identification and registration, a process that will be closely monitored through the state platform. Following registration, authorities will have a 15-day window to verify compliance with all regulations before the coveted ID number is issued. The decree stipulates that temporary rentals must be justified—be it for work, study, or health-related reasons—and that the rented property cannot serve as the tenant's primary residence. Furthermore, ID numbers for temporary rentals will be capped at a maximum duration of 12 months, although extensions may be granted upon substantiation.

In a bid to ensure that the new regulations do not unduly burden property owners, a transitional period—yet to be defined—will allow for voluntary registration before the mandate becomes compulsory. The government anticipates that the Digital Single Window for Leases will be operational by the end of 2025, paving the way for a more organized and transparent rental landscape.

Interestingly, this regulatory development does not require congressional approval, as it falls under the purview of regulatory measures rather than legislative ones. It serves as an alternative to a temporary accommodation law that was previously proposed but ultimately rejected by parliament. Looking ahead, the ultimate aspiration is to establish a unified registry at the European level, with the Spanish platform poised to connect with a broader European framework anticipated for launch in mid-2026.

While the new regulations may seem daunting to some landlords, they represent a crucial step toward a more regulated and equitable rental market in Spain. As the government endeavors to streamline the process, one can only hope that the path to compliance is as smooth as a well-oiled machine—albeit one that may require a bit of elbow grease to get up and running.