There are more and more holiday homes in Spain. According to the latest data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), in February there were 351,389 flats in Spain, a year-on-year increase of 9.2%.
These tourist flats represent 1.33% of the total number of properties on Spanish territory, whereas a year ago they accounted for 1.21%. These figures are already higher than the 1.29% recorded in October last year, with 340,424 flats for tourist use.
By autonomous region, Andalusia leads with the highest number of tourist flats – 82,454 (+17.5%), followed by the Valencian Community and Catalonia with 59,413 (+19%) and 52,598 flats (+15%), respectively. They are followed by the Canary Islands (46,784 and +9.6%), the Balearic Islands (25,073 and -1.2%), Madrid (19,456 and +19%) and Galicia (17,883 and +21%).
By province, Malaga is the most prominent with more than 41,000 tourist properties, followed by Alicante, with more than 38,000 units, and the Balearic Islands and Las Palmas with 25,000.
Regarding bedplaces, the total reached 1,751,263 in February of this year, compared to 1,545,368 in the same month of 2023, an increase of 13.3%. Furthermore, the number of bedplaces per tourist accommodation rose to 4.98, slightly lower than in previous years, when it was 5.06 per flat.
Podemos wants to limit tourist apartments
Podemos has presented a bill in the Congress of Deputies against property speculation and with measures to guarantee housing as a right in the face of the "serious housing emergency" that Spain is facing.
Specifically, the purple party has presented as the main legal points to extend rental contracts' minimum duration to 10 years (12 years in the case of the owner being a legal entity) and impose a limit of 2% of tourist housing on the total residential stock.
According to the INE, in Spain, these 351,389 tourist properties account for 1.33% of the residential stock. However, there are several provinces that exceeded this 2% at the end of February. They are Girona (4.09%), Tarragona (2.22%), Alicante (2.82%), the Balearic Islands (3.84%), Malaga (4.12%), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (4.04%) and Las Palmas, which is the most prominent in the ranking with 4.55%. In Barcelona, on the other hand, its weight is barely 0.65%, in line with Madrid (0.66%).
Booking removes 4,000 Spain holiday rentals to comply with consumer laws
Booking.com has removed 4,093 tourist accommodation listings in Spain, most of which were in the Canary Islands, following a request from the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and the 2030 Agenda.
Andalusia to create police force to inspect illegal tourist flats
The President of the Andalusian Regional Government, Juanma Moreno, has announced the creation of the "Titan Group," a unit within the national police dedicated to monitoring and inspecting illegal tourist accommodation.
Could holiday rentals disappear in Spain?
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni has announced that the city will withdraw all 10,101 tourist accommodation licences by November 2028. The aim, according to the city council, is to free up homes for residential use and improve access to housing. However, the measure has sparked swift backlash from the sector, which sees it as a blow to a well-established economic model.
Country houses exempt from Spain's new tourist rental register
Rural houses already registered on regional tourism registries are exempt from the new Single Register of Short-Term Rentals starting 1 July. This was confirmed by the Spanish Rural Tourism Association (Asetur) after meetings with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda.
Spain’s new short-term rental registry explained
Spain has introduced a new short-term rental registry to regulate tourist accommodations. Property owners must now register rentals with regional authorities, ensuring compliance with safety and zoning rules. The move aims to improve oversight, combat illegal listings, and protect long-term housing availability for residents.
How does the CPI affect rent updates in Spain in 2025?
Article 18 of the Spanish Urban Leases Act (LAU) outlines, among other provisions, the procedure for updating a property's rent. Although the LAU states that, in the absence of a specified index, the Competitiveness Guarantee Index (IGC in Spanish) will apply, the most commonly used benchmark for rent adjustments is the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Renting a room in Madrid: costs and insider tips
Opting for a room in a shared apartment goes miles beyond saving money by splitting rent and bills. With the rising rental prices in Madrid, coliving is part housing solution, part social adventure—an experience as unpredictable as the city itself. You’ll cross paths with people you might never otherwise meet—future best mates, language partners, or even just expert locals who know the best menú del día spots.