The Increasing Tourist Flats in Spain: A Double-Edged Sword
So, let’s talk about Spain. Tourist flats have increased by 9.2% in the last year! That’s right!
We’re not just talking about a few extra properties popping up here and there; we’re talking about
a staggering 351,389 homes, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
To add a little spice, Andalusia leads the charge with a whopping 82,454 tourist apartments,
showing a mighty 17.5% increase. But hold your horses! More tourists don’t mean more happiness using the “hotel-style” approach.
Now, before you rush to book a flat in Sevilla, let’s take a moment. While the increasing availability of rentals
may seem like a boon for those fancying a getaway, it’s turning into a real headache for locals.
Imagine waking up to the delightful sounds of tourists at 1 AM, ready to witness firsthand how many cocktails one
can handle before falling into the fountain. The noise and mess from these rentals have caused serious complaints
and protests. Bless their hearts! They just want to sleep without hearing someone shout “¡Olé!” at 3 in the morning!
Supreme Decisions: Neighbors Take a Stand
Recently, the Supreme Court acted like the stern parent entering a chaotic room, ruling that neighbors can now
refuse tourist rentals if the decision comes from a meeting with a three-fifths majority.
Talk about a game-changer! Now, they can kick out the partygoers with a simple nod of agreement—it’s practically a sitcom. Consider
it a democracy at work, but instead of voting for the next president, they’re voting for a quiet Friday night!
Previously, if a property owner wanted to keep their rental running—juggling shouting guests and the occasional
misplaced pizza box—their neighbors had no say. I mean, who doesn’t want to wake up to the aroma of pizza at dawn,
am I right? But that’s all changed. Now, if the numbers align, every flat becomes a potential “no-party zone.”
Goodbye to tourist rentals in Spain! The Supreme Court (TS) has established that communities of owners can prohibit the activity of tourist rentals through agreements adopted at a meeting by a three-fifths majority. According to TS, the proliferation of tourist rentals has contributed to rising rental prices, thus affecting the availability and cost of housing for residential use. The ruling reinforces the power of communities of owners to limit this. It’s proportional—a more pleasant living experience or overpriced margaritas? You decide!
According to the Supreme Court, the explosion of tourist flats not only cranks up the volume but also adds a
nice little boost to rental prices across cities. Because who wouldn’t want to spend their hard-earned cash to
live next to an Airbnb where the most stressful decision is which club to hit next?
Ah, but here comes our social media warrior, TikTok lawyer @lawtips, with a hot take. He argues,
“Even though it is your private property, they don’t let you do whatever you want with it.” Isn’t that just delightful?
Kind of like saying the kid in the candy store can’t eat everything. It’s your candy, but kindly keep it down in the
“shared playground.”
While the lawyer believes everyone should have the freedom to do as they please with their homes,
public sentiment seems tilted towards appreciating the ruling. What’s that? People prefer quiet neighborhoods
over party central? Shocking! Comments on his videos show a clear preference for prioritizing community over
free-for-alls.
The argument shaping up is that tourists should stick to hotels—those delightful establishments that do more than
just provide a bed. They create jobs, pay taxes, and don’t turn your block into a wild fiesta. Who knew community
welfare could clash so deliciously with the pursuit of a third paella?
So there you have it, folks! Spain finds itself in a tangled web of commercial interests and neighborhood harmony.
It’s the classic tale where tourists, property owners, and residents are all vying for a piece of the pie. Meanwhile,
the Supreme Court just tossed in a whole new set of rules—like a referee in a game where nobody’s quite sure of
the rules!
The tourist flats have increased by 9.2% in Spain in the last year and there are already 351,389 homes, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). By autonomous community, Andalusia leads the number of tourist apartments, with 82,454 (+17.5%), followed by the Valencian Community and Catalonia.
Alejandro Martínez Vélez / Europa Press
Despite the convenience that this means for those who rent their homes, and also for those who find them at low prices, tourist apartments have become a headache in many cities and, above all, in many neighborhood communities.
The noise and dirt produced by many of these rentals have led to a series of complaints, protests and demands from the residents of the home that until now have not had a final ruling. Just a few days ago, the Supreme Court ruled that neighbors could refuse this type of rental if it was agreed upon at a meeting. Experts, like TikTok lawyer @lawtips, they are against.
“Even though it is your private property…”
The Supreme Court has ruled that communities of owners can prohibit the activity of tourist rentals through agreements adopted at the meeting by a three-fifths majority. This means that neighbors can completely refuse this activity, as long as the majority mentioned in a meeting is reached.
Previously, if the owner of the apartment wanted to continue with the rental, even though the neighbors refused, the activity continued. However, after the ruling of the TS, the opinion of the owner of the home does not ‘count’ in the process.
Goodbye to tourist rentals in Spain. The Supreme Court (TS) has established that communities of owners can prohibit the activity of tourist rentals through agreements adopted at a meeting by a three-fifths majority. According to the TS, the proliferation of tourist rentals has contributed to the increase in rental prices in general, thus affecting the availability and cost of housing for traditional residential use. The ruling reinforces the power of the communities of owners to limit or prohibit the use of homes for tourist purposes, considering that this measure is proportional and conforms to the purpose of the rule.
In addition to the noise and dirt that these rentals represent, according to the Supreme Court, their proliferation has contributed to the increase in rental prices in general, thus affecting the availability and cost of housing for traditional residential use.
However, the ruling has brought different opinions on the matter, including from experts on the subject. The lawyer @lawtips has confessed that “even though it is your private property, they don’t let you do whatever you want with it.”
The lawyer, in the video, defends the possibility that each owner can do whatever they want with their home, including renting it. However, the comments on his videos, both on TikTok and Instagram, They support the Supreme Court ruling.
“Tourists to hotels, that they are businesses, they create jobs, pay taxes, contribute to all areas of society and do not speculate with a basic necessity,” they comment in their publication.
