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In Spain, there are three main types of rental:
Only tourist rentals can — under specific conditions — be limited or banned by a community of owners (Comunidad de Propietarios), as stated in Article 17.12 of the Spanish Ley de Propiedad Horizontal.
Tourist rental typically involves short-term stays with a commercial purpose, often advertised through platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com. Even private agreements for holiday stays count as tourist rentals, regardless of the platform used.
While banning tourist rentals might seem like a solution for peace and quiet, it creates confusion in practice. You can't easily tell whether guests are renters, friends, or family of the owner. This leads to unclear enforcement and often uncomfortable social control within the community.
Moreover, a ban doesn't guarantee a reduction in disturbances. Based on our experience of over 10 years in holiday rentals, we’ve seen that guest-related issues were just as often caused by owners themselves or their friends and relatives as by tourists.
Ironically, officially registered tourist rentals often follow stricter rules, giving communities better tools for managing issues. Seasonal or long-term stays don’t offer the same mechanisms for intervention.
Owners value flexibility. When tourist rentals are banned, a major usage option is removed. This reduces the marketability of the property and can directly lower its market value.
Potential buyers — especially in tourist areas — want to know whether the property can be rented out. If rental is restricted, interest drops and selling prices tend to follow.
On a larger scale, widespread bans on tourist rentals have lasting effects on the local economy. Fewer tourists mean fewer customers for local businesses. As a result:
A vibrant mix of residents and visitors is essential for the health and prosperity of tourist regions.
Instead of banning tourist rentals, communities should implement clear rules. This allows for rental activity while protecting the quality of life. For example:
With registered tourist rentals, communities — along with the police — have more authority to act. This is not the case with seasonal rentals or when family and friends are staying.
Tourist rentals in Spain are subject to strict regulations. In Murcia, for example, the requirements include:
This legal framework helps ensure a safe and regulated rental experience — beneficial for both residents and guests.
Banning tourist rentals may sound appealing, but it comes with significant downsides: legal uncertainty, poor enforceability, reduced property value, and long-term economic harm to the region.
A smarter, more sustainable solution is to set clear rules and responsibilities for all types of guests. This protects community harmony and keeps the area vibrant and economically healthy.
