Government changes the Horizontal Property Law so that residents can veto holiday rentals
The Ministry of Housing for Spain have announced urgent measures to address the housing crisis and explosion in the number of holiday homes. Among them, is a modification of the Horizontal Property Law which will mean anyone wanting to holiday let their apartment on a residential complex will need permission from the community of owners to do so.
Currently, this is not possible as to do so a modification of the statutes would be needed and that requires unanimity which is difficult to achieve. If the Horizontal Property Law is modified, the communities and the people who live and own properties on the complex can decide and veto holiday rentals.
This change has been welcomed by regions across Spain with island and local councils supporting the decision to give the “power back to the people” so that “neighbourhoods continue to be the neighbourhoods of our neighbours.”
Waiting for the Law on the Regulation of Holiday Rentals
Municipalities are still waiting for the Government of the Canary Islands to approve the Law on the Regulation of Holiday Rentals, which is expected to happen in September after the summer holidays, which will allow them to demand more criteria for accommodation for tourist use, including those on holiday complexes.
These criteria have nothing to do with the property classification of use, but focus on energy efficiency, accessibility, or air conditioning, as if it were a hotel or aparthotel. They also estimate that at least 10,000 VUT licences will be revoked over the next four years from properties that don’t meet the new criteria.
